Military Arrests Wife, Children, Associates of Wanted Terror Kingpin in Kwara
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Military Arrests Wife, Children, Associates of Wanted Terror Kingpin in Kwara
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Nigerian Military said it has arrested the wife of a notorious terror kingpin, Auta Ilori, during a targeted operation in Kwara State, as troops intensified efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating across the North Central region.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement obtained by INCNews247 on Friday detailing military operations conducted nationwide between June 12 and 18, 2026.
According to Onoja, the suspect, Mrs. Hafsatu Alh Bello, 27, was intercepted by troops of Operation Savannah Shield on June 16 near Ndeji town in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State while allegedly heading towards her husband’s hideout.
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The military spokesperson said Bello was arrested alongside her three children and another suspect, Lawali Oro, his wife, Hauwa’u Muhammad, and their two children at a residence where she reportedly spent the night.
Onoja stated that preliminary interrogation revealed that Bello was aware of her husband’s activities as a terrorist and kidnapper, adding that her arrest had provided security operatives with valuable intelligence.
“Following sustained monitoring, troops intercepted and arrested Mrs. Hafsatu Alh Bello at a settlement near Ndeji town in Edu LGA of Kwara State. During preliminary interrogation, she admitted knowledge of her husband’s activities and provided significant leads,” the statement read.
In a related operation on June 17, troops conducting clearance operations in the Gbugbu/Ndeji forest corridor of Edu LGA arrested two suspected terrorists identified as Hussieni Minna and Sani Abbas.
The military said investigations linked Minna to a previous attempt to kidnap schoolchildren in Iluke-Bunu, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, while Abbas allegedly confessed to belonging to a terrorist syndicate operating in Kaduna State.
The statement noted that both suspects had been transferred for further investigation.
The military said the arrests formed part of ongoing operations aimed at disrupting terrorist movements and criminal activities across the North Central region.
It added that troops remained committed to tracking down terror leaders and dismantling their support networks.
