The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Friday confirmed the arrest of a Chinese national and five others in Borno State over suspected involvement in terrorism-related activities.
The arrest, which occurred during ongoing counterterrorism operations in the North-East, was made by troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces operating in Kukawa and Ngala local government areas of Borno State, as well as Geidam Local Government Area in Yobe State, between June 5 and 7, 2025.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja, where he provided updates on military operations across the country.
According to Kangye, the five Nigerian suspects were identified as logistics suppliers and collaborators for terrorist groups, while the Chinese national, who claimed to be a miner, was arrested under suspicious circumstances.
“Troops arrested five terrorist logistics suppliers, collaborators, and a Chinese national claiming to be a miner during well-coordinated operations. Items recovered include a vehicle, a motorcycle, mobile phones, a Chinese international passport, and the sum of N10,000,” Kangye said.
The senior military officer questioned the foreigner’s presence in a conflict zone under active military surveillance.
“Anyone caught in such an area must be properly scrutinised. Criminals typically deny involvement, but the real question is: what brought him to that location during an ongoing military operation?” Kangye asked.
He confirmed that the Chinese national is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation.
“A thorough investigation is underway. Once concluded, the public will be informed of his reasons for being there, the circumstances surrounding his arrest, and any possible links to terrorist groups,” he added.
Responding to allegations that troops are often slow in responding to distress calls, especially in remote communities, Kangye described such claims as misleading and lacking context.
“People must understand that troops are not stationed in every village. Many incidents occur 10 to 15 kilometres from the nearest military base. Before a response can be initiated, a unit must be designated, a commander identified, and logistics secured. These take time,” he explained.
Drawing an analogy, he compared the military’s operational challenges to a hospital triaging multiple patients with different levels of urgency.
“You might feel neglected if you don’t understand the internal priorities, but that does not mean we are not taking action. Let’s not be quick to label our troops as slow. They are working under extremely difficult conditions and remain committed to responding to every call,” he said.
Kangye reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to securing the nation and upholding its sovereignty through strategic and well-coordinated operations.
“Our goal remains the safety of all Nigerians and the protection of their property. By adhering to the rule of law and partnering with the public through both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, we are creating an environment where citizens can thrive without fear,” he said.
Highlighting achievements in the week under review, Kangye noted that troops of Operation Delta Safe foiled attempts to steal crude oil and destroyed illegal refining infrastructure worth an estimated N146,614,380.
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