Nigeria: nine Boko Haram “wives” arrested, IED cache found in Borno

Nigerian security forces have arrested nine women, believed to be forcibly married to Boko Haram insurgents, as they attempted to relocate from the Alawa forest reserve (Niger State) to Kebbi State near the Benin Republic. The arrests occurred in Tegina and Agwara between Friday and Saturday, with some women carrying babies and one reportedly pregnant. They confessed that their insurgent husbands had ordered the move amid pressure from rival factions and military operations.
President Bola Tinubu, speaking at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration in Kaduna, urged the military to defeat terrorists and separatists decisively. He vowed to prioritize welfare, equipment, and intelligence for the armed forces.
Meanwhile, in Borno State, troops of Operation HADIN KAI, alongside the Civilian Joint Task Force, uncovered 56 IEDs planted by Boko Haram/ISWAP on the strategic Marte–Dikwa bridge. The discovery, made by Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams, prevented a potential mass-casualty attack.
Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede emphasized the Nigerian soldier’s resilience and reaffirmed the army’s commitment to professionalism and national security. Tinubu praised the fallen and pledged unity against threats undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty.