Army Nabs Maiduguri Mosque Bombing Coordinator, 14 Others
…..As Shariff Umar fingered in Gamboru Market attack, foiled Damaturu plot
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested Shariff Umar, also known as Yusuf, the key coordinator of a suicide bombing network behind recent attacks in the North-East.
The Nigerian Army announced the arrest in a statement issued on Friday, following intelligence-led cordon-and-search operations in the Kalmari area of Maiduguri on December 31, 2025.
The operation nabbed 14 suspects linked to suicide bombings, with investigations exposing the terror cell’s structure, roles, and operational linkages.
A suspected suicide bomber in custody, Ibrahim Muhammad, fingered Umar as the ringleader who recruited, prepared, and dispatched bombers to targets, the Army said.
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Umar supplied IEDs, coordinated mosque blast, Investigators revealed that Umar handled logistics and supplied improvised explosive device (IED) components for the attacks.
Umar directly coordinated the December 24, 2025, suicide bombing at Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri, where his accomplice, Adamu, detonated a vest and died.
He was also linked to a foiled bombing in Damaturu after handing IED components to the would-be bomber in Maiduguri.
Further intelligence implicated Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu, while his stepdaughter, Amina, confirmed seeing the suspected bomber at their residence before the attack.
The Army noted this exposed terrorists’ use of domestic and community-based concealment tactics.
All suspects are in custody for intensive probes to dismantle the network, identify collaborators, and recover explosives.
The Army urged public cooperation with security agencies, calling on residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities to prevent future attacks and ensure lasting peace.
