Maiduguri, Borno State | January 2, 2026
The Nigerian Military under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has recorded a major breakthrough in its counter-terrorism operations in the North East with the identification of Shariff Umar, also known as Yusuf, as the alleged principal coordinator of a suicide bombing network responsible for recent attacks and attempted strikes in the region.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Sani, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai. According to the statement, the breakthrough followed intelligence-driven cordon-and-search operations conducted in the Kalmari area of Maiduguri on December 31, 2025, during which 14 suspected collaborators linked to suicide bombing activities were arrested.
Investigations revealed that one of the detained suspects, Ibrahim Muhammad, identified as a would-be suicide bomber, provided critical information that directly implicated Shariff Umar as the mastermind and leader of the terror network operating within the region.
Further findings established that Shariff Umar allegedly orchestrated the suicide bombing attack at the Gamboru Market Mosque on December 24, 2025, in which an associate identified as Adamu (now deceased) detonated an improvised explosive device (IED). He was also named as the organizer of a foiled suicide bombing plot in Damaturu, having reportedly supplied IED components to the intended bomber in Maiduguri.
The investigation additionally uncovered links within Umar’s immediate household. His wife, Yagana Modu, was identified as having connections to the network, while corroborating testimony from his stepdaughter, Amina, confirmed that the suspected bomber had previously been seen at their residence.
According to the military, these revelations underscore the use of domestic and community-based concealment strategies by terrorist facilitators, highlighting the evolving tactics employed by extremist elements to evade detection.
OPHK has therefore renewed its call on members of the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious persons, activities, or movements to security agencies.
The military emphasized that community cooperation, trust, and timely information sharing remain critical to dismantling terrorist networks, preventing attacks, and achieving lasting peace and security across the North East region.
