Troops of Operation Hadin Kai intercepted a 48-year-old Chadian woman on the Maiduguri-Monguno highway last Thursday. The suspect, Rachael Samuel, was transporting 30 kilogrammes of cannabis, two 10-litre containers of hydromercuric chloride, and 109 bottles of alcoholic beverages. Security sources confirmed the consignment was destined for terrorist cells operating in the Lake Chad Islands.
The arrest occurred during a routine search operation near Kwatan Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area. Military spokesperson Mohammed Goni revealed that Samuel, a resident of Kelo in Chad’s Chari-Baguirmi Province, was driving a vehicle loaded with narcotics and prohibited substances. The street value of the seized items exceeds millions of naira. Authorities also recovered a mobile phone, two ATM cards, and cash from the suspect.
Intelligence reports indicate that Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters routinely use illicit drugs to enhance aggression and suppress fear during operations. Hydromercuric chloride, locally known as "Suck and Die," is a potent stimulant linked to increased combat intensity among insurgents. The interception marks the third major drug bust by Operation Hadin Kai in the past six months, signaling a deliberate strategy to dismantle terrorist logistics networks.
The Lake Chad Islands have long served as a sanctuary for insurgent groups. Satellite imagery and intercepted communications reveal that these remote locations function as command centres, training camps, and supply depots. The Nigerian military has intensified patrols along the Maiduguri-Monguno axis following repeated attempts by terrorists to infiltrate the Maiduguri metropolis. Last week, troops thwarted three separate infiltration bids at Muna Garage, Shuwari Village, and Ajilari Cross.
This arrest exposes a critical vulnerability in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy. While military operations have degraded insurgent capabilities, the porous borders with Chad and Niger continue to facilitate the flow of weapons and narcotics. A 2025 report by the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) highlighted that 68% of hard drugs seized in Borno originated from Chad. The report also noted that female couriers, often overlooked by security agencies, play a pivotal role in smuggling operations.
The use of female operatives by terrorist groups is not new. In 2024, the Nigerian Army arrested Aisha Mohammed, a 32-year-old Nigerian, for supplying methamphetamine to ISWAP fighters in Marte Local Government Area. Unlike male couriers, women are less likely to be subjected to rigorous searches at checkpoints. This gendered dimension of smuggling operations underscores the need for enhanced profiling and intelligence-sharing between Nigeria and its neighbours.
The economic implications of this drug trade are severe. The NDLEA estimates that insurgent groups generate over ₦5 billion annually from narcotics trafficking. These funds are used to purchase weapons, pay fighters, and bribe local officials. The arrest of Samuel has prompted calls for a regional task force to address cross-border smuggling. The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), comprising troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, has struggled to coordinate effective border patrols due to logistical and political constraints.
The military has assured the public that operations against terrorist collaborators will continue relentlessly. However, analysts warn that without addressing the root causes of insurgency—poverty, unemployment, and weak governance—the cycle of violence and drug trafficking will persist. The Borno State government has initiated vocational training programmes for youths in high-risk areas, but these efforts remain insufficient to counter the allure of quick profits from smuggling.
