By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
A potential mass-casualty attack was narrowly averted in Borno State this week as troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), dismantled what security officials describe as a live terror plot arresting a suspected suicide bomber and intercepting key materials meant for the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The breakthrough came after days of sustained intelligence-led operations focused on Banki town in Bama Local Government Area, a flashpoint community near Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.
At about 5:40 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025, soldiers of the 152 Task Force Battalion, working with other security agencies, apprehended a suspect at the Banki Central Mosque.
The suspect, identified as Abubakar Mustapha, was found with primed IED components, indicating what military sources described as an imminent intent to strike.
Preliminary findings suggest the suspect is a native of Bama Local Government Area.
Security officials say further searches led to the discovery of additional incriminating materials linking him to terrorist activity.
He is currently undergoing intensive interrogation as investigators work to identify his sponsors, collaborators and possible connections to terror cells operating in the area.
The arrest was only one part of a broader operation.
In a related development along the Cameroon–Nigeria border, troops intercepted a Peugeot vehicle transporting six bags of urea fertiliser, a dual-use commodity frequently diverted by terror groups as a key precursor in IED production.
The vehicle and its contents were immediately seized.
Follow-up intelligence from the interception led to the arrest of the fertiliser dealer involved and the recovery of six more bags of the same substance, bringing the total seizure to twelve bags.
All suspects, vehicles and materials are now in military custody pending further investigation and prosecution.
Military authorities say the twin operations underscore a growing emphasis on cutting off terror groups not just at the point of attack, but at the level of logistics, supply chains and local facilitation networks.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai continue to maintain a robust presence across their areas of responsibility, combining aggressive patrols, targeted surveillance and intelligence-driven raids aimed at denying JAS and ISWAP factions freedom of movement.
The goal, commanders say, is to prevent attacks before they reach civilian targets or critical infrastructure.
According to the military, troop morale remains high as operations intensify in line with the mandate to restore lasting peace and stability across the North East.
The armed forces have once again urged residents to remain vigilant and to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains one of the most effective tools in disrupting terror plots before they turn deadly.
For Banki and for many communities living under the shadow of insurgency this week’s arrests offered a rare but critical reassurance: that intelligence, vigilance and rapid action can still stay one step ahead of terror.
