The Borno State Police Command has dismissed as misleading reports suggesting that the Nigerian Army arrested a suspected suicide bomber in the state, insisting that the suspect was apprehended by the police and that no active improvised explosive device was recovered.
The clarification followed reports published on Tuesday night claiming that troops of Operation Hadin Kai arrested a suspected suicide bomber, identified as Abubakar Mustapha, in Borno State.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, North-East Operation Hadin Kai, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, had disclosed in a statement that the suspect was arrested on Monday by troops of the 152 Task Force Battalion, working alongside other security agencies, in Bama Local Government Area.
According to the statement, “The Joint Task Force North East (JTF NE), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), has recorded a significant operational success with the arrest of a suspected suicide bomber and the interception of materials intended for the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Borno State.”
Uba explained that the arrest followed sustained joint operations and credible intelligence aimed at securing Banki town in Bama LGA.
“At about 5:40 pm on Monday, December 29, 2025, personnel deployed at the Banki Central Mosque apprehended a suspected suicide bomber identified as Abubakar Mustapha,” he said.
He added that the suspect was allegedly found with materials believed to be components of a primed IED, suggesting an imminent plan to carry out an attack.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect hails from Bama Local Government Area and was further discovered to be in possession of additional incriminating materials linked to terrorist activities.
“He is currently undergoing detailed interrogation to establish his sponsors, collaborators and possible links with terrorist networks operating within the area,” Uba stated.
He further assured that troops of JTF NE OPHK continue to maintain dominance in their areas of responsibility through aggressive patrols, intelligence-driven operations and sustained presence to deny JAS/ISWAP terrorists freedom of action and prevent attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure.
However, reacting on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, told PUNCH Online in a telephone interview that the suspect was arrested by the police and remains in police custody.
“The same suspect shown in the pictures released by the Army is with us. I personally interviewed him last night. The items recovered from him are not IEDs. It was a police operation,” Daso said.
The police spokesperson also issued a statement in the early hours of Wednesday, cautioning against the spread of misinformation.
“The Borno State Police Command has observed with concern the circulation of social media videos alleging the recovery of improvised explosive device (IED) components in Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State,” the statement read.
“To set the record straight, on December 29, 2025, at about 6:10 pm, operatives of the command, while on surveillance around a mosque in Banki LGA, accosted one Abubakar in possession of a bag containing electrical wires, old mobile phone batteries, assorted gadget scrap materials and pairs of shoes,” he added.
According to the police, preliminary findings showed that the recovered items indicated “no active IED fabrication or priming.”
“The case has been transferred to the State Command Headquarters for comprehensive investigation. The suspect is currently in custody, while investigations are ongoing to ascertain the circumstances and intent surrounding possession of the items,” Daso said.
He warned members of the public against circulating unverified information capable of causing fear or panic and advised reliance on credible and official sources for accurate updates.