The Borno State Police Command has dismissed reports claiming that the Nigerian Army arrested a suspected suicide bomber in the state, describing the information as misleading and inaccurate.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested by police operatives, not the military, and no active improvised explosive device (IED) was recovered during the operation.
The clarification follows earlier reports that troops of Operation Hadin Kai had arrested a suspected suicide bomber, identified as Abubakar Mustapha, in Banki town, Bama Local Government Area. The military had stated that the suspect was apprehended at the Banki Central Mosque and allegedly found with materials meant for making an IED.
However, reacting on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Nahum Daso, said the suspect shown in images circulated by the army was actually in police custody.
“The suspect is with us. I personally interviewed him. The items recovered from him are not IEDs. This was a police operation,” Daso said.
In a statement issued by the command, the police explained that operatives arrested the suspect on December 29, 2025, around 6:10 pm, while on routine surveillance near a mosque in Banki.
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He said the suspect was found with a bag containing electrical wires, old phone batteries, assorted scrap gadgets and pairs of shoes.
“Preliminary investigation shows that the items recovered do not indicate any active IED fabrication or priming,” the statement noted.
The police added that the case has since been transferred to the State Command Headquarters for further investigation to determine the suspect’s intentions and any possible links to criminal activity.
The command cautioned members of the public against spreading unverified information that could cause fear and panic, urging residents to rely on official and credible sources for accurate security updates.
Investigations into the matter are ongoing, the police said.
