The Nigerian military says troops have intercepted and seized over 400 Starlink satellite communication terminals allegedly used by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in the country’s North‑East.
Brigadier‑General Beyidi Martins, commander of Sector 2 of Operation HADIN KAI, disclosed the seizures while briefing defence correspondents on ongoing offensives and intelligence‑led operations in the region, a report by Zagazola said. The Starlink devices are linked to satellite internet services operated by Elon Musk‑owned SpaceX, the military said.
According to Martins, the terminals were recovered during sustained operations in Sambisa Forest, the so‑called Timbuktu Triangle and other insurgent enclaves. He said the military had stepped up efforts to “cripple the supply chains and communication structures sustaining insurgent operations.”
“The lifeblood of terrorist activities is logistics resupply, and we are deliberately denying them freedom to move supplies, communication equipment, fuel and other operational items across the theatre,” Martins said.
Martins alleged that insurgents continued to rely on civilian supply chains and collaborators to ferry food, fuel, medical supplies, communication gadgets and motorcycle parts into remote hideouts. He said some civilians assisted voluntarily, while others were coerced.
Troops, the commander said, had infiltrated several transport and logistics networks through coordinated intelligence operations targeting transporters, traders and supply syndicates. He added that hundreds of suspected logistics suppliers, couriers and collaborators had been arrested and that the military had disrupted “over 400 logistics‑related cases and networks” supporting terrorist operations.
The military also reported intercepting consignments of petrol (PMS), medical supplies, drugs, food items and spare parts on routes from Kano through Nguru and other corridors into Sambisa and neighbouring enclaves. Martins accused insurgents of using local livestock markets to sell rustled animals and raise funds, prompting authorities and market stakeholders to introduce livestock verification measures requiring proof of ownership before sales.
Martins said the offensives and “strangulation operations” had weakened terrorist logistics networks and restricted insurgent capacity in his sector, forcing some militants and family members to surrender. He said the military remained committed to intensifying operations aimed at intercepting supply routes, dismantling communication systems and denying insurgents freedom of movement across the North‑East.
