The Nigerian military has confirmed the arrest of four Pakistani nationals over their alleged involvement in terrorist activities, including arms trafficking and training of insurgent groups in the country’s troubled North-East region
By Olayomi Koiki
Date: May 28, 2025 | Maiduguri, Nigeria
In a major development amid Nigeria’s ongoing counter-insurgency operations, the Nigerian military has confirmed the arrest of four Pakistani nationals over their alleged involvement in terrorist activities, including arms trafficking and training of insurgent groups in the country’s troubled North-East region.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, during a press briefing held in Maiduguri with defence correspondents touring the operational headquarters.
According to General Abubakar, preliminary investigations have linked the detained foreigners to critical support roles for terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). He revealed that the Pakistani nationals were found to be actively supplying arms and offering tactical training to these groups.
“The infiltration of foreign mercenaries into the Joint Operations Area has significantly escalated the threat posed by terrorist elements such as ISWAP and JAS,” the commander stated.
He explained that the presence of foreign operatives has enabled terrorist factions to enhance their combat sophistication, including the deployment of advanced warfare tools such as drones for surveillance and offensive operations.
Advanced Tactics and External Threats
General Abubakar highlighted the growing danger posed by these foreign elements, noting their expertise in:
- Drone deployment for reconnaissance and strikes
- Fabrication of advanced improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
- Designing ambush traps targeting Nigerian military personnel
He said the arrest of the four Pakistani nationals underscores the international dimensions of Nigeria’s security crisis and called for urgent regional and global cooperation to dismantle such cross-border support systems.
“This is a wake-up call. Nigeria cannot face this challenge alone. The rising involvement of foreign actors in our internal conflict necessitates a coordinated international response, with strengthened intelligence sharing, surveillance, and border control,” Abubakar urged.
War Against the Nigerian State
General Abubakar reiterated that terrorist groups operating in the North-East are at war with the Nigerian state itself, not just its military forces.
“Boko Haram and ISWAP are not fighting the Nigerian Army—they are fighting the Nigerian state and its people. Their goal is to destabilize and impose chaos, and they are now aided by external actors.”
Call for Vigilance and Support
The military commander emphasized the need for public vigilance and support for the armed forces in the fight against terrorism, while urging other nations in the region and beyond to intensify their efforts in tracking the movement of foreign fighters, arms dealers, and terrorist financiers.
KoikiMedia will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as more information emerges regarding the investigation and the identities of the detained individuals.
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