The Defence Headquarters has announced the arrest of a Chinese national during a counter-terrorism operation carried out by troops in Borno State. The individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, claimed to be a miner and is currently in custody undergoing interrogation.This arrest comes shortly after the military detained four Pakistani nationals allegedly involved in training terrorists in the same region.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, said the operation, conducted between June 5 and 7, 2025, also led to the arrest of five terrorist logistics suppliers and collaborators in Kukawa and Ngala Local Government Areas of Borno State, as well as Geidam in Yobe State.
Items recovered during the operation included a vehicle, a motorcycle, mobile phones, a Chinese international passport, and ₦10,000 in cash.Kangye raised questions about the Chinese suspect’s presence in an active military zone. “Anybody that is caught, just like you know with criminals, they will just deny involvement. But the question is: what brought him there at the time of arrest? Why was he in an operational area where our troops were conducting operations?”
He said investigations are ongoing to uncover the suspect’s intentions and potential ties to insurgent groups. “The Chinese national has been detained and is undergoing interrogation. Once the investigation is concluded, we will furnish the public with full details—why he was there, how he was arrested, and whether he had accomplices.”
Addressing claims that troops are often slow to respond to distress calls, particularly in remote areas, Kangye dismissed the allegations as misleading. He explained that response times are affected by logistical constraints such as difficult terrain, deployment planning, and the need to coordinate appropriate resources. “People must understand that our troops are not in every village. Sometimes, incidents occur 10 to 15 kilometres from the nearest military base. Before deployment, the appropriate subunit must be identified, a commander appointed, and vehicles and supplies secured. All of this takes time,” he said.
Comparing the situation to a hospital triaging patients, Kangye emphasized that delays should not be mistaken for inaction. “You might feel neglected if you don’t understand the internal priorities, but it doesn’t mean action isn’t being taken.” He assured the public that all distress calls are being addressed and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to protecting citizens and neutralizing threats. “Let’s not rush to label our troops as slow. They are working under tough conditions, and I can assure you—they respond when called upon,” he said.
Source: https://punchng.com/
