Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a 65-year-old woman accused of supplying drugs to Boko Haram militants in Nigeria’s North-East, the military said Sunday.
The suspect, Hauwa Abulazeez, was arrested in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State following intelligence-led operations, according to Lt. Col. Sanni Uba, media information officer of the Joint Task Force, North-East, Operation Hadin Kai.
Uba said Abulazeez is suspected of supplying cannabis sativa to Boko Haram elements operating in Askira Uba and surrounding communities, including Rumirgo, Gwahi, Wamdiyo, Uvu and Gaya. He described her as a key link in the distribution of the illicit substance across several areas within the theatre of operations.
“Acting on credible intelligence on Jan. 23, 2026, troops arrested a suspected drug dealer, Hauwa Abulazeez, aged 65, in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State,” Uba said in a statement.
Preliminary investigations showed that the suspect allegedly sourced the drugs from Sarti Baruwa Local Government Area of Taraba State and transported them through established supply routes for onward distribution, the military said.
Uba said troops recovered 14 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing about 30 kilograms during the operation, describing the seizure as a significant interception intended to disrupt illicit activities.
The suspect remains in custody and is undergoing preliminary investigation, while follow-up operations are underway to identify and dismantle the wider trafficking and distribution network, the statement said.
The army said the arrest highlights the importance of cutting off illicit supply chains that fuel violence, criminality and instability in the region, adding that sustained intelligence-driven operations would continue until lasting peace and stability are achieved.
