Loading ...MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA — Counter-terrorism operations in the North-East recorded a significant breakthrough after frontline troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully dismantled a major cross-border logistics supply chain feeding terrorist groups within the Lake Chad region.
The operation led to the arrest of a 48-year-old Chadian woman who was caught red-handed smuggling a massive consignment of illicit drugs, highly toxic chemicals, and alcoholic beverages intended to boost the endurance of insurgent fighters.
Intercepted on the Monguno Highway
According to an official statement released by Captain Mohammed Goni, the Acting Military Information Officer for the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), the suspect was intercepted by troops of Sector 3 during a targeted, intelligence-driven sweep on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
The suspect, identified as Mrs. Rachael Samuel, a citizen of the Republic of Chad hailing from Kelo in the Chari-Baguirmi Province, was traveling along the Maiduguri–Monguno highway.
Military intelligence units had been tracking suspicious movements indicating that a high-profile delivery of essential contraband was heading toward Kwatan Doron Baga in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State—a known transit point for supplies destined for the Lake Chad islands.
Recovered Contraband and Intoxicants
A thorough search of the suspect’s transport units uncovered a wide variety of contraband designed to sustain the insurgent camps.
| Recovered Logistics Log | Inventory of Items Seized from the Suspect |
|---|---|
| Narcotics | 7 compressed bundles of suspected Cannabis Sativa (approximately 30kg). |
| Toxic Chemicals | Two 10-litre containers of hydromercuric chloride, locally nicknamed “Suck and Die.” |
| Alcohol Supplies | 1 carton containing 48 bottles of dry gin and 61 bottles of herbal alcohol. |
| Financial/Tech Digital Assets | One operational mobile phone, two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, and cash. |
Security analysts noted that the recovery of hydromercuric chloride is particularly alarming. The highly dangerous chemical compound is frequently used by terrorist groups for primitive chemical modifications, or heavily diluted to serve as an extreme intoxicant for fighters before launching suicide raids or village assaults.
Choking the Insurgency
The Theatre Command has highly praised the alertness and professionalism of the Sector 3 troops, noting that cutting off logistics suppliers is just as vital as directly engaging terrorists in battle.
“Intelligence reports have consistently shown that terrorist fighters rely heavily on illicit drugs and strong intoxicants to enhance endurance, suppress fear during raids, and cope with the harsh conditions of their forest hideouts,” the military statement explained.
The suspect remains in military custody undergoing rigorous interrogation to identify her local collaborators, trade receivers, and financial handlers within the Borno axis.
The military high command confirmed that Mrs. Samuel and the recovered exhibits will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and relevant border security organs for full prosecution.
