Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has identified a man named Shariff Umar, also known as “Yusuf,” as the lead coordinator behind a series of recent suicide bombings and foiled attacks across Nigeria’s North East region.
The breakthrough follows a targeted cordon-and-search operation conducted on December 31, 2025, in the Kalmari area of Maiduguri. During the raid, security forces arrested 14 suspects linked to the terror network.
According to a statement signed by the Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba and made available to Channel Network Afrique indicates that subsequent investigations established the structure and operational methods of the cell.
Coordination of Key Attacks
Military officials stated that Ibrahim Muhammad, a suspected suicide bomber currently in custody, identified Umar as the ringleader responsible for recruiting, preparing, and dispatching bombers.
Investigations have specifically linked Umar to the December 24, 2025, Attack: Directly coordinating the suicide bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque, where an accomplice named Adamu detonated an explosive vest.
The Damaturu Plot: Orchestrating a foiled suicide bombing in Damaturu by personally delivering IED components to a courier in Maiduguri.
Domestic Concealment Tactics
The investigation further exposed how the network utilized domestic settings to evade detection. Authorities established links involving Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu, and his stepdaughter, Amina, who reportedly admitted to seeing the suspects within their residence.
“These findings significantly exposed the domestic and community-based concealment methods employed by terrorist facilitators,” Lt. Col. Uba stated.
Ongoing Operations
All 14 suspects remain in military custody for further interrogation. The military aims to use current intelligence to dismantle remaining cells, identify further collaborators, and recover any outstanding explosives or logistical assets.
The OPHK headquarters urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security agencies, stressing that the survival of these networks often depends on community silence or fear.
