The wife of a wanted terrorist kingpin, Aisha Auta, is among 20 suspects arrested by troops during operations conducted nationwide between Feb. 13 and Feb. 19, 2026, the military said.
Auta was arrested on Feb. 19 by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Friday during a weekly briefing on military operations.
Onoja said Auta’s arrest could provide critical intelligence on terrorist network structures and financing.
“In a notable encounter on Feb. 19, following intelligence on terrorist activities in Kumeh village, Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State, troops of Sector 1 Operation Whirl Stroke mobilized and engaged the terrorists,” he said.
“During the exchange, some terrorists were killed, while others fled with gunshot wounds. Troops later recovered arms and ammunition of various calibers from the area.”
He said the operations led to the arrest of 11 terrorists, including Auta, and the rescue of 39 kidnapped victims.
In a separate operation on Feb. 16, Onoja said troops on routine patrol along the Maiduguri-Magumeri road intercepted five suspects carrying 37 million naira.
The suspects claimed the money was meant for distribution to vulnerable communities on behalf of an international nongovernmental organization, Action Against Hunger.
Onoja said the suspects and the cash were taken into custody for investigation to verify the claim and rule out possible links to terrorist financing or diversion of aid.
He also said troops arrested a suspected logistics supplier, Mallam Dauda Usman Gubula, on Feb. 19 at Madagali Motor Park in Adamawa State following a tip-off.
Items recovered from the suspect included two drones and 20 solar power banks.
Onoja said troops of the Joint Task Force, Northeast, Operation Hadin Kai, continued to sustain pressure on Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, disrupting their operations and limiting their movement across the region.
He added that troops of Operation Fansan Yamma in the Northwest were focused on dismantling terrorist networks involved in mass abductions, cattle rustling and attacks on rural communities.
Onoja said the donation of 25 armored personnel carriers by the Zamfara State Government on Feb. 18 would strengthen ongoing operations in the zone.
He said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended the Zamfara government for the support.
