Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested 18 individuals suspected of supplying logistics to Boko Haram terrorists while travelling toward Gubio and the Gudumbali axis, an area known to host insurgent activities.

This was revealed in a daily operational report released to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday. According to the military, the suspects were intercepted while heading to deliver supplies to the terrorist group.

Preliminary investigations indicated that all 18 suspects allegedly admitted to being involved in providing goods to the insurgents. They reportedly claimed that unemployment and economic hardship influenced their involvement in the activity, highlighting broader socio-economic challenges in Maiduguri and surrounding areas.

The report also noted that the arrests support recent comments made by the Chief of Defence Staff regarding the connection between economic difficulties and the networks that sustain insurgency logistics.

According to the military, the incident underscores the role of civilian collaborators in enabling terrorist operations, particularly in remote locations such as Gubio and Gudumbali.

The army therefore stressed the need for a broader strategy that combines continued military action with economic empowerment and job creation to tackle the root causes of insurgency in the region.