Teenage Courier for ISWAP Captured in Borno: A Glimpse into the Shadows

Security personnel conducting Operation Hadin Kai have apprehended a 15-year-old alleged logistics messenger associated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during an action in Borno State.

This information was shared in a post on X on Sunday by security expert Zagazola Makama.

As per the report, troops detained the adolescent in Ngamdu while he was reportedly trying to obtain logistical provisions for militants functioning along the Ngamdu–Benisheik corridor.

The individual, named Tijjani, purportedly admitted during initial interrogations that he had been involved in recent assaults on Benisheik and Ngamdu.

“My name is Tijjani. I am 15 years of age. I was apprehended today in Ngamdu. I was part of the militants that attacked Benisheik and Ngamdu,” he was cited as stating.

He also allegedly revealed that the assailants assembled from Jilli, a known militant hideout in Gubio Local Government Area, before executing the operations and subsequently returning to the site.

“Prior to the attack, we came from Jilli and returned there after the assault,” he expressed.

The suspect further asserted he was later dispatched again with funds to procure resources for other combatants.

“I was dispatched from Jilli yesterday with N850,000 to gather some logistics from Ngamdu, but I was captured by the troops,” he reportedly mentioned.

Military sources indicated that this arrest sheds light on how insurgents employ young couriers to transport money and supplies across various locations in the region.

The report also highlighted that recent aerial bombardments had targeted the Jilli sector, which is thought to serve as a logistics and coordination center for insurgent operations.

Officials state that investigations are underway to trace additional members of the network and disrupt remaining supply routes utilized by the organization.