Fatimah Otunsanya
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a 65-year-old woman, Hauwa Abulazeez, over her alleged involvement in supplying drugs to Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.
The Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force, North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt-Col Sanni Uba, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the suspect was arrested in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to Uba, the suspect is alleged to be one of the suppliers of cannabis sativa to Boko Haram terrorist elements operating in Askira Uba, Rumirgo, Gwahi, Wamdiyo, Uvu and Gaya, and a key conduit in the distribution of the substance across several communities within the theatre of operation.
The statement read, “Troops of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), under Operation Desert Sanity V, have recorded another significant success in efforts to degrade terrorist logistics and criminal support networks in the North-East.
“Acting on credible intelligence on January 23, 2026, troops arrested a suspected drug dealer, Hauwa Abulazeez, aged 65, in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
“The suspect is alleged to be one of the suppliers of cannabis sativa to Boko Haram terrorist elements operating in Askira Uba, Rumirgo, Gwahi, Wamdiyo, Uvu and Gaya, and a key conduit in the distribution of the substance across several communities within the theatre.”
Uba said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect sourced the illicit substance from Sarti Baruwa Local Government Area of Taraba State and transported it through established supply routes for onward distribution.
During the operation, 14 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, with an estimated total weight of about 30 kilogrammes, were recovered, representing a significant interception intended to sustain illicit activities,” he said.
According to the statement, the suspect is currently in custody, undergoing preliminary investigation, while follow-up operations are ongoing to identify and dismantle the wider trafficking and distribution network.
The Army noted that the interception underscored the importance of denying illicit supply chains that fuel violence, criminality and instability in the region.
“By disrupting these networks, the operation contributes to improved security conditions, reduced criminal influence, and the reinforcement of lawful authority and order across the region,” the statement added.
Uba assured all of the troops’ unwavering commitment to confronting and eliminating all forms of criminality in the North-East.
“Through sustained intelligence-driven operations and continuous pressure across the theatre, troops will persist in denying criminal networks the space, resources and freedom required to operate until enduring peace and stability are achieved,” he said.