It was a night of fear and tension for residents of Magumeri town in Borno State after they discovered a strange face in their midst – a man they suspected to be a terrorist.
The man, later identified as Madumaki Modugai, had quietly sneaked into the community in Magumeri Local Government Area, hoping to blend in and hide among innocent residents.
But his presence did not go unnoticed. Locals became apprehensive and quickly alerted security agencies, fearing an imminent attack.
Acting on intelligence provided by the community, troops of the 109 Special Forces Battalion, working closely with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), launched an intelligence-led operation and tracked him down.
Counter-terrorism expert, Zagazola Makama, who disclosed the incident in a post on X, said the suspect was arrested at about 10:45 p.m. on October 5, 2026, inside Magumeri town.
“The arrest immediately calmed the situation and restored confidence among the locals who were living in fear,” Zagazola said.
According to preliminary interrogation, Madumaki Modugai is a high-profile terrorist who has allegedly been operating around the fringes of the Lake Chad region and across the border in Niger Republic.
He is believed to have fled into Magumeri to evade the ongoing military offensive in the Lake Chad basin.
Security sources confirmed that the suspect remains in military custody for further interrogation, while investigations continue to uncover his movements, activities and possible links with terrorist networks operating around the Lake Chad.
For the people of Magumeri, a community that has suffered years of Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks, the arrest brought huge relief – a sign that vigilance and trust between civilians and the military can still save lives.
