Troops arrest terrorist kingpin in Kaduna as Nigeria military takes over new US equipment

The United States has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force in Lagos and Kainji, Niger state, to support counter-terrorism operations in the country.

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), in a statement on its website on Thursday, said the equipment was delivered in September through a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft.

According to the command, the delivery was part of a foreign military sales agreement between the United States and Nigerian militaries.

“The delivery furthers the strategic partnership between the two nations in order to enhance Nigerian-led efforts to counter terrorism in the region. U.S. military support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria is by its invitation and rooted in respect for Nigerian sovereignty,” AFRICOM said.

The development comes weeks after the AFRICOM Commander, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, announced a reduction in the number of US troops deployed to Nigeria following a May operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified by U.S. officials as the second-in-command of ISIS, in the Lake Chad Basin.

American and Nigerian officials had described the relatively small US deployment in Nigeria as having produced significant results.

However, small teams of US trainers and intelligence analysts are expected to remain in Nigeria after the larger contingent is withdrawn by late September.

The report also quoted American officials as describing the deployment in Nigeria as a potential model for future US counterterrorism operations in Africa.

…Terrorist kingpin

Meanwhile, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have arrested a suspected terrorist kingpin and two other members of his syndicate, while also intercepting a suspected ammunition courier with 300 rounds of live ammunition in separate operations across Kaduna state.

The Media Information Officer, Lt Col Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement, Thursday.

Danja said troops of Sector 1 conducted a clearance operation at Dabar Dabo, a suspected terrorist hideout in Kubau Local Government Area of the state, in the early hours of September 9, 2026

He said the operation led to the arrest of the suspected kingpin and two other members of his syndicate.

According to him, the suspects were in military custody for further investigation.

In a separate operation on the same day, troops acting on credible intelligence intercepted a 50-year-old woman suspected to be an ammunition courier in Igabi Local Government Area.

Danja said the suspect was arrested with 300 rounds of ammunition concealed in a bag.

Preliminary investigation, he said, indicated that the suspect had travelled from Zamfara State to Lafia, where she allegedly received the ammunition for onward delivery to terrorists in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna state.

He said the suspect and the recovered ammunition had been taken into military custody for further investigation.

Later the same day, troops of Sector 1, in collaboration with a community vigilante group, also apprehended a suspected terrorist logistics supplier in Birnin Gwari local government area.

Danja said four communication devices suspected to be used by terrorists were recovered from the suspect during interrogation and a search of his premises.

He said the suspect and recovered items remained in military custody for further investigation.

The Media Information Officer said the operations demonstrated the commitment of troops of Operation Fansan Yamma to disrupting terrorist networks, denying criminal elements freedom of action and preventing the movement of arms, ammunition and other logistics across the Joint Operations Area.

He appreciated members of the public for their continued support and urged them to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest security agency.