Troops of 101 Special Forces Battalion have arrested a 60-year-old man suspected of being an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) spy along the Cross-Kukawa road in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
The suspect, identified as Mallam Garba Audi, was arrested at about 9:55 a.m. on September 3, 2026, following intelligence indicating the possible movement of an ISWAP operative from Monguno towards Kukawa.
Security sources said troops, acting on the intelligence, intensified surveillance around their defensive position and subsequently apprehended Audi, who was reportedly found wandering along the Cross-Kukawa road.
During preliminary questioning, the suspect reportedly claimed that he had lost his way while travelling from Digimari in northern Borno.
Troops reportedly recovered cement bags containing clothing and mosquito nets from his possession.
The suspect and the recovered items remain in military custody and are expected to be transferred to the 19 Military Intelligence Regiment for further investigation.
The arrest highlights the role of intelligence-led operations and heightened surveillance in efforts by security forces to detect and disrupt suspected terrorist infiltration and reconnaissance activities across vulnerable areas of Borno State.
