Army arrests key coordinator of Maiduguri mosque bombing
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have identified and arrested Shariff Umar, also known as Yusuf, as the key coordinator of a suicide bombing network responsible for recent attacks and attempted attacks in the North-East.
The Army disclosed this in a statement on Friday, following intelligence-led cordon-and-search operations conducted at the Kalmari area of Maiduguri on Dec. 31, 2025.
According to the statement, the operation led to the arrest of 14 suspects linked to suicide bombing activities, with subsequent investigations uncovering the structure, roles and operational linkages of the terror cell.
It said a suspected suicide bomber currently in custody, Ibrahim Muhammad, identified Shariff Umar as the ringleader who recruited, prepared and dispatched suicide bombers to assigned targets.
“Consistent and corroborated statements revealed that Shariff Umar coordinated logistics and the delivery of improvised explosive device (IED) components for suicide attacks,” the statement said.
The Army said investigations further established that Umar directly coordinated the suicide bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque on Dec. 24, 2025, in which his accomplice, identified as Adamu, detonated a suicide vest and died in the process.
He was also linked to the foiled suicide bombing attempt in Damaturu, having personally handed over IED components to the would-be bomber in Maiduguri, the statement added.
The Army said further intelligence revealed the involvement of Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu, while his stepdaughter, Amina, confirmed seeing the suspected bomber within their residence prior to the attack.
“These findings exposed the domestic and community-based concealment methods employed by terrorist facilitators,” it said.
It said all suspects remained in custody and were undergoing intensive investigations to dismantle the network, identify additional collaborators and recover any remaining explosives or logistics.
The Army stressed that the breakthrough underscored the importance of cooperation between security agencies and the civilian population, noting that terrorist networks often survive by hiding within communities.
It urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to security agencies, adding that sustained cooperation was critical to preventing attacks and restoring lasting peace in the region.
