Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have arrested five suspected kidnappers and recovered weapons during an intelligence-led operation in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State.

The operation, conducted along a known criminal corridor in the area, was based on credible intelligence and forms part of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and criminality across the North-East region.

Military authorities said the troops apprehended five suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate allegedly responsible for a series of attacks and abductions targeting residents within the locality.

Items recovered during the operation included two AK-47 rifles, magazines and ammunition. Security officials said the seizure significantly disrupted the group’s operational capability and prevented the suspects from carrying out further criminal activities.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects may be linked to kidnapping and other criminal operations in parts of Borno State. The individuals are currently in military custody and are assisting investigators with efforts to identify and apprehend other members of the network.

According to military sources, the operation underscores the continued offensive against terrorist groups, kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in the region.

The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, stressing that troops would continue sustained operations aimed at restoring peace, security and stability across the North-East and other parts of the country.

Operation HADIN KAI remains one of the military’s key counterterrorism operations in the North-East, where security forces continue to target insurgent and criminal networks through coordinated ground and intelligence-driven missions.