Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai have identified Shariff Umar as the primary coordinator behind a recent wave of suicide bombings in the region. The revelation follows a series of intelligence-led operations that led to the arrest of 14 suspects on December 31, 2025.
Among those in custody, a suspected bomber named Ibrahim Muhammad provided testimony identifying Umar, who also goes by the alias “Yusuf,” as the ringleader responsible for recruiting, preparing, and dispatching bombers to various targets.
Okay News reports that investigations have directly linked Umar to the deadly suicide attack at the Gamboru Market Mosque on December 24, 2025, and a foiled bombing attempt in Damaturu. Military officials disclosed that the terror cell utilized domestic concealment methods, with evidence suggesting that Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu, and his stepdaughter were aware of the network’s activities.
The Joint Task Force emphasized that these arrests are part of a broader multi-layered investigation aimed at completely dismantling the logistical assets and collaborator networks of the group within the Maiduguri metropolis.
In a related development on Friday, January 2, 2026, security forces uncovered a massive cache of high-caliber ammunition hidden in a drainage channel in the Bulumkutu Railway area of Maiduguri. Acting on a distress call regarding suspicious metallic objects, a combined team of troops and Police EOD experts recovered 1,270 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition and several power banks used for improvised explosive devices. The military has maintained a heavy presence in the area to secure the site and determine if further dangerous items remain submerged in the channel.
Operation Hadin Kai officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and continue collaborating with security agencies, noting that the capture of key coordinators and the recovery of such a large volume of ammunition are direct results of timely community intelligence.
While the general security situation in Maiduguri is currently described as calm, the military remains on high alert due to the unpredictable nature of the threat environment as they work to identify additional collaborators.
