Troops Intercept Suspected ISWAP Member with Starlink Device, Networking Equipment in Borno

By Zagazola Makama

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

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspect was apprehended at about 3:05 p.m. on Wednesday during a routine security operation along the Maiduguri–Monguno road in Munguno.

According to the sources, troops of the 212 Battalion, while conducting surveillance and stop-and-search operations at Delta One, intercepted the suspect based on suspicious movement and subsequently carried out a search.

Items recovered from him included a Starlink satellite internet terminal, a Wi-Fi router with six access points, a mobile phone and the sum of ₦1,000 in cash.

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

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

The suspect, along with the recovered items, has since been transferred to the Military Intelligence Brigade (7 MIB) for detailed profiling and intelligence exploitation to determine any possible links with ISWAP/JAS terrorist networks operating in the North-East.

Military sources said the investigation would 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.

Security agencies have continued to warn that terrorist groups have increasingly sought access to advanced communication technologies to enhance coordination, evade surveillance and sustain operations in remote areas, making the interception of such equipment a key component of ongoing counter-insurgency efforts.