Troops of the Nigerian military under Operation Hadin Kai, a counter-insurgency operation in North East Nigeria targeting extremist groups, have intercepted two pick-up vans suspected of transporting logistics supplies to the Islamic State West Africa Province, an armed extremist organization operating across parts of Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
The operation took place in Borno State, located in North East Nigeria, a region that has remained at the center of Nigeria’s long-running insurgency. The development was confirmed on Friday, 19 December 2025, by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, a Nigerian military formation coordinating counter-terrorism operations in the region.
Okay News reports that the interception was the result of actionable intelligence that tracked the movement of the vehicles from Dapchi, a town in Yobe State, North East Nigeria, toward the Magumeri general area of Borno State, a known transit corridor for insurgent logistics.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Uba, troops from Sector Two of the Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai, working in close coordination with the Civilian Joint Task Force, a local community security group supporting military operations, tactically deployed along the identified route and successfully intercepted the vehicles.
The statement issued by the military spokesman read, “Troops of Sector Two, Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai, working in close coordination with the Civilian Joint Task Force, have successfully intercepted two pick-up vans conveying logistics supplies suspected to be intended for Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists in Borno State.”
A detailed inventory of recovered items revealed a wide range of supplies believed to support terrorist mobility, sustenance, and operations. Items recovered included two civilian vehicles, thirty-one spare tyres, twenty-three spare rims, two bicycles, twelve ignition key starters, three alternators, two bags of flour, one mattress, five bags of charcoal, thirty-four tubers of yam, two blankets, two nylons of garri, assorted adult and children clothing, one power bank, six mobile phones, and cash in different denominations.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba disclosed that the drivers conveying the items were apprehended alongside the recovered materials and are currently being held in military custody. He explained that further interrogation is ongoing to establish the full extent of their involvement and to support broader counter-terrorism investigations.
“This successful interception underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and the sustained collaboration between troops and local security partners in disrupting terrorist logistics networks,” he stated.
He further assured residents of the North East that Nigerian troops remain committed to denying terrorists freedom of movement, cutting off supply chains, and safeguarding civilians across the region.
The interception adds to a series of recent security operations aimed at weakening terrorist networks. In January 2025, troops of the First Brigade of the Joint Task Force Operation Fasan Yamma, working alongside operatives of the Department of State Services, Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency, intercepted a large cache of arms in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, North West Nigeria, following intelligence on suspected arms dealers linked to the Niger Republic, a neighboring West African country.
