SECURITY forces battling insurgency in the North-East say they have uncovered the suspected mastermind behind a network of suicide bombers responsible for recent deadly attacks in the region.
The Nigerian military identified the suspect as Shariff Umar, believed to be the principal coordinator of suicide missions linked to incidents such as the December 24 bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri, as well as other attempted attacks across the North-East.
According to the military, Umar’s role was exposed following intelligence-driven operations by troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).
The breakthrough followed a series of cordon-and-search operations conducted on December 31, 2025, in the Kalmari area of Maiduguri, during which 14 suspects believed to have connections with suicide bombing activities were arrested.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued Saturday in Maiduguri by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, who said investigations had revealed the structure and operational linkages of the terror cell.
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On Umar’s identification, the statement said the suspects arrested in Kalmari were subjected to detailed interrogation and profiling, which eventually established the hierarchy and operational network of the group.
A detained suspected suicide bomber, Ibrahim Muhammad, was said to have provided critical intelligence during questioning, directlnaming Umar, also known as ‘Yusuf,’ as the ringleader and coordinator of the network.
“According to consistent and corroborated statements, Shariff Umar was responsible for recruiting, preparing, directing, and dispatching suicide bombers to assigned targets, as well as coordinating logistics and delivery of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components,” the military said.
Investigators also linked Umar to the December 24 Gamboru Market Mosque suicide attack, carried out by his accomplice, Adamu, who died in the blast.
He was further accused of coordinating a foiled suicide bombing attempt in Damaturu, Yobe State, reportedly personally handing IED components to the suicide bomber in Maiduguri.
The military said additional findings connected Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu, to the network, while his stepdaughter, Amina, confirmed that she had previously seen one of the suspects at their residence.
All arrested suspects are currently in custody and are undergoing intensive investigations aimed at completely dismantling the network and recovering any remaining explosives or support infrastructure.
OPHK also appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information, stressing that terrorist cells thrive on silence and fear within communities.
“Timely information from law-abiding citizens remains one of the most powerful tools in preventing attacks and saving innocent lives,” Uba added.
North-East terrorism
The North-East has been a hotbed of terrorism, characterised by the ever-presence of Boko Haram, ISIS, ISWAP and other groups. The terrorists have made particularly Borno unihabitable for several families, with many living in internally displaced people’s camps (IDPs).
A study found that Boko Haram’s roots were “deeply embedded in structural deprivation, perceived injustice, and ideological exploitation of socio-economic grievances.” It noted that addressing these root causes required a multidimensional peace building strategy that prioritised inclusive governance, youth empowerment, interfaith dialogue, and social justice.
United States President Donald Trump carried out airstrikes in North-West Nigeria on Christmas night, targeting ISIS militants he accused of killing Christians. He described the operation as ‘decisive’ and warned that more strikes would follow if the violence continued.
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“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social.
He said he had previously warned the militants that there would be consequences if the attacks did not stop, adding that the U.S. military conducted ‘numerous perfect strikes.’
“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper,” Trump added, while praising the U.S. military and sending Christmas greetings.
It is not clear whether President Trump will launch another set of strikes in Nigeria, but several terrorists have fled Sokoto, where the airstrikes were launched for other parts of the nation.
