Military identifies suspected mastermind behind recent suicide bombings in North-East

Nigerian military authorities have named Shariff Umar, also known as Yusuf, as the alleged principal coordinator of a suicide bombing network responsible for recent deadly attacks in the North-East, including the December 24 bombing at Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri.

The identification follows intelligence-led operations conducted by troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK). A breakthrough occurred on December 31, 2025, during cordon-and-search operations in Maiduguri’s Kalmari area, where 14 suspects connected to suicide bombing activities were arrested.

In a statement issued in Maiduguri on Saturday, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for OPHK, explained that subsequent investigations exposed the structure, roles, and operational ties of the terror cell.

A detained suspect, Ibrahim Muhammad, reportedly identified Shariff Umar during interrogation as the ringleader and coordinator of the network. According to the military, Umar was responsible for recruiting, training, and dispatching suicide bombers, as well as organizing logistics and the delivery of improvised explosive device (IED) components.

The statement detailed that Umar allegedly coordinated the December 24 mosque attack in Gamboru Market, in which his accomplice, Adamu, detonated a suicide vest and died in the process. He was also linked to a foiled suicide bombing attempt in Damaturu, Yobe State, where he personally handed IED materials to the would-be bomber in Maiduguri.

Further connections within the network were revealed, including the alleged involvement of Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu, and corroboration from his stepdaughter, Amina, who acknowledged previously seeing a suspected bomber at their residence.

All suspects remain in custody and are undergoing what the military described as “intensive, multi-layered investigations” aimed at completely dismantling the network, identifying other collaborators, and recovering any remaining explosives or logistical assets.

The military also urged public cooperation, emphasizing that community support is vital in countering terrorism. “Terrorist networks often survive by hiding within communities, exploiting silence, fear, or misplaced loyalty,” Lt. Col. Uba stated. “Timely information from law-abiding citizens remains one of the most powerful tools in preventing attacks and saving innocent lives.”

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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