The Nigerian Army–led Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, has uncovered the coordinator behind a string of suicide bombing attacks and attempted attacks across the North East, identifying him as Shariff Umar.
The revelation was contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri by Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East).
According to the task force, the breakthrough followed intelligence-driven cordon-and-search operations carried out in Maiduguri’s Kalmari area on December 31, 2025. The operation led to the arrest of 14 suspects linked to an active suicide bombing network operating within the region.
Investigators revealed that one of the suspects in custody, Ibrahim Muhammad, named Shariff Umar, also known as Yusuf, as the central figure coordinating the network. Umar was said to be responsible for recruiting, preparing, and deploying suicide bombers, as well as overseeing logistics, including the movement and delivery of explosive devices.
Security sources disclosed that Umar coordinated the December 24, 2025, suicide bombing at Gamboru Market Mosque, where an accomplice identified as Adamu detonated a suicide vest and died on the spot. Umar was also linked to a foiled suicide attack in Damaturu and reportedly personally supplied components of improvised explosive devices to a would-be bomber in Maiduguri.
The investigation further exposed the role of Umar’s immediate family. His wife, Yagana Modu, and his stepdaughter, Amina, reportedly provided critical information that helped security forces piece together the group’s operations. Amina confirmed that a suspected bomber had previously stayed in their home, shedding light on how the network embedded itself within local communities to avoid detection.
All arrested suspects remain in custody and are undergoing intensive interrogation as security forces move to dismantle the network, trace collaborators, and recover explosives and logistical assets.
Lt.-Col. Uba urged members of the public to support ongoing counterterrorism efforts, stressing that timely and credible information from law-abiding citizens remains vital to preventing attacks and saving lives. He called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activity to security agencies.
