The wife of a notorious wanted terrorist kingpin, Aisha Auta, has been arrested as part of a sweeping nationwide military operation that led to the capture of 20 suspects and the rescue of dozens of kidnapped victims.
Auta was apprehended on February 19, 2026, by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
Michael Onoja, director, Defence Media Operations, disclosed the development during a weekly briefing on ongoing military operations across the country. He described the arrest as a significant breakthrough, noting that Auta’s detention is expected to provide critical intelligence on terrorist network structures and financing channels.
According to Onoja, troops acting on intelligence about terrorist activity in Kumeh village mobilised from the Abaji/Katsina-Ala axis and engaged the insurgents in a fierce gun battle.
“Troops neutralised several terrorists, while others fled with gunshot wounds. A subsequent sweep of the area led to the recovery of caches of arms and ammunition of various calibres,” he said.
“In total, 11 suspects were arrested during the Benue operation, including Auta. Beyond Benue, military operations conducted between February 13 and 19 recorded additional successes across multiple theatres. A total of 39 kidnapped victims were rescued during the period,
“On February 16, troops on routine patrol along the Maiduguri–Magumeri road intercepted five suspects carrying N37 million. The individuals claimed the funds were meant for distribution to vulnerable communities on behalf of the international NGO, Action Against Hunger”, he stated.
Onoja said both the suspects and the money were taken into custody for verification to determine the legitimacy of the transaction and rule out possible links to terrorist financing or diversion of humanitarian aid.
In a separate operation on February 19, troops acting on a tip-off arrested Dauda Usman Gubula at Madagali Motor Park in Adamawa State over suspected terrorist logistics movement. Items recovered from him included two drones and 20 solar power banks, he added.
The military said troops of the Joint Task Force North East under Operation Hadin Kai continued sustained offensives against Boko Haram, ISWAP and JAS elements, disrupting their operations and restricting their freedom of movement.
Similarly, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma intensified efforts in the North-West to dismantle networks responsible for mass abductions, cattle rustling and attacks on rural communities.
Onoja also confirmed that the Zamfara State Government donated 25 armoured personnel carriers on February 18 to bolster operations under Operation Fansan Yamma. He conveyed the appreciation of the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, for the support, describing it as a major boost to ongoing security efforts.
