Troops Seize Large Cache of Terrorist Supplies in Northeastern Nigeria

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Nigerian troops intercepted a truck loaded with hundreds of bags of fertilizer and other materials believed to be destined for insurgent groups in Yobe State this week, the military said Thursday, calling the discovery a significant blow to extremist supply networks.

Acting on intelligence, soldiers with Operation Hadin Kai stopped a 14-tyre trailer traveling the Nguru–Gashua road on Tuesday, according to Lt. Col. Sani Uba, a military spokesman. Beneath stacks of fabric, the vehicle concealed 700 bags of fertilizer, 27 cartons of drugs and nine cartons of saline solution — items officials say are commonly diverted for bomb-making and medical use by fighters.

“This is a major breakthrough in cutting off terrorist supply chains,” Colonel Uba said in a statement. “The materials were cleverly concealed, but our troops remain vigilant.”

The seizure was part of Operation Desert Sanity IV, an ongoing campaign targeting insurgent logistics in Nigeria’s northeast, where both Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have waged a 15-year insurgency. Earlier the same day, troops intercepted two Sharon vehicles and another trailer carrying fabric and solar panels, which intelligence officials said were intended for producing insurgent uniforms.

The drivers and their assistants are in custody, and investigators are examining links to suspected cross-border smuggling routes into Niger Republic, officials said.

The use of fertilizer for homemade explosives has long posed a challenge in northern Nigeria, where vast stretches of farmland border conflict zones. Security analysts say the seizures highlight the persistent difficulty of policing rural supply chains exploited by militant groups.

Colonel Uba urged residents to continue cooperating with troops. “Our operations are effective because of the cooperation of communities. Together, we will deny terrorists the resources they depend on,” he said.