INTERPOL Arrests 11 Terror Suspects in Nigeria: Global Security Operation Targets Terror Networks Across West Africa

In a major breakthrough in the global fight against terrorism, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), in collaboration with the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), has arrested 11 suspected terrorists in Nigeria. The operation, which forms part of a coordinated international security campaign, targeted extremist cells with links to transnational terror networks operating across the Sahel region.

According to a statement released by INTERPOL’s General Secretariat in Lyon, the suspects are believed to be high-ranking operatives and facilitators involved in the recruitment, financing, and logistics of various terrorist groups, including factions aligned with Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and other violent extremist organizations operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.

The arrests, which took place following months of intelligence sharing and surveillance, were executed in several states across northern Nigeria under the supervision of INTERPOL’s Counter-Terrorism Directorate and with the active participation of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Army’s intelligence units.

An INTERPOL spokesperson disclosed that the operation was conducted under the framework of “Operation SANGARIS,” an intelligence-driven initiative designed to dismantle terrorist networks, intercept funding channels, and curb cross-border arms smuggling within the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel corridor.

“This joint operation demonstrates the effectiveness of global policing partnerships in identifying and neutralizing threats before they can strike,”
said INTERPOL Secretary-General, Jürgen Stock, in the statement.
“By pooling resources, intelligence, and field expertise, we are disrupting the operational capabilities of terrorist groups that endanger regional and international stability.”

Sources within Nigeria’s security architecture confirmed that the suspects were apprehended with arms, communication devices, and digital materials containing details of planned attacks, movement routes, and funding transfers. Some of the materials recovered are said to be undergoing forensic examination at INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Laboratory.

National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, while commending INTERPOL’s support, described the arrests as “a testament to Nigeria’s deepening cooperation with international law enforcement institutions in the fight against terrorism.” He assured that the government would continue to collaborate with regional and global partners to ensure that Nigeria does not serve as a safe haven or transit point for terror elements.

Preliminary interrogations reportedly indicate that several of the suspects have direct operational or financial ties to extremist groups active in Mali, Niger, and Chad, underscoring the complex transnational nature of terrorism in the region.

The detainees are currently in the custody of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism authorities and are expected to face prosecution under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, following the completion of joint investigations.

Security analysts have hailed the operation as one of the most significant coordinated anti-terror efforts in recent years, noting that it could weaken recruitment pipelines and disrupt ongoing insurgent financing across the sub-region.

This development comes amid renewed efforts by the Nigerian government to enhance intelligence cooperation and cross-border patrols through platforms such as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and AFRIPOL, aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.

As investigations continue, INTERPOL reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria and other African nations in combating terrorism, organized crime, and emerging security threats through technology, intelligence exchange, and operational coordination.