DHQ Arrests Chinese National In Borno
The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the arrest of a Chinese national by troops of Operation Hadin Kai during a series of coordinated military operations in the Kukawa and Ngala Local Government Areas of Borno State, and Geidam LGA in Yobe State.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, disclosed this at a press briefing on Friday.
According to Kangye, the foreign national claimed to be a miner.
According to Kangye, the suspect was arrested in an active combat zone and is currently being detained and interrogated to determine the circumstances surrounding his presence at the scene.
He said, “Everybody that is caught will deny saying that I am not involved in [illegal mining].
“But the question is, what is he doing there at that time of arrest? And why was he in an operational area where our troops were conducting operations?
“That is the first question we are going to ask. So the Chinese national has been detained, and he is undergoing interrogation.
“When the interrogation is completed, then we will be able to fully show you the details of why he was there in the first place, how he was arrested, whether he was the only one there or he had accomplices.
“All this will be recorded after further investigation.”
Kangye said troops also killed several terrorists during the same operation and arrested a suspected drug peddler.
“They recovered arms, ammunition, vehicles, motorcycles, and materials used in the fabrication of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
“Three kidnapped victims were also rescued,” he said.
He added that troops arrested five individuals identified as terrorist logistics suppliers and collaborators in the course of the operation, along with the Chinese suspect.
According to him, troops recovered additional items, including mobile phones, a Chinese international passport, a motorcycle, vehicles, and N10,000 in cash from the suspects.
In a related operation between June 6 and 9, 2025, troops responded to intelligence on terrorist activities in Gwoza and Abadam LGAs of Borno State and Nangere LGA of Yobe State.
They engaged the terrorists, killed several fighters, rescued three kidnapped victims, and destroyed terrorist hideouts and equipment.
Kangye also reported a rise in terrorist surrenders in response to sustained military pressure.
He said, “From 6 – 11 June 2025, scores of terrorists comprising adult males and females as well as children surrendered to troops as operational tempo heightened up during the week.”
DHQ Arrests Chinese National In Borno is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
