Army intercepts suspected ISWAP member, recovers Starlink communication equipment in Borno

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation HADIN KAI have intercepted a suspected member of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, in Munguno Local Government Area of Borno State, recovering a Starlink satellite internet device and other communication equipment.

The operation was disclosed by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, in a post shared via his X handle.

According to Makama, the suspect was arrested at about 3:05 p.m. on Wednesday during a routine security operation along the Maiduguri–Monguno Road in Munguno.

Citing security sources, Makama said troops of the 212 Battalion, while conducting surveillance and stop-and-search operations at Delta One, intercepted the suspect over suspicious movement before carrying out a search.

Items recovered from the suspect included a Starlink satellite internet terminal, a Wi-Fi router with six access points, a mobile phone and N1,000 cash.

During preliminary interrogation, the suspect reportedly claimed he operates an internet service business in his community and that the communication equipment was meant for that purpose.

However, security sources said the circumstances surrounding his movement and possession of the devices raised operational concerns, prompting the troops to hand him over for further investigation.

The suspect and the recovered items have since been transferred to the Military Intelligence Brigade (7 MIB) for detailed profiling and intelligence exploitation to determine any possible links with ISWAP or Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, JAS, terrorist networks operating in the North-East.

According to the sources, investigators will seek to establish the intended use of the recovered Starlink device, identify possible collaborators and determine whether the equipment had been deployed or was intended to support terrorist communications and logistics.

The interception comes amid intensified efforts by Operation HADIN KAI to disrupt terrorist logistics, communications and supply networks across the North-East, with security forces increasingly targeting individuals suspected of providing technical or logistical support to insurgent groups.