The Nigerian military says troops operating under Operation Hadin Kai have recovered about 400 Starlink communication devices from insurgent groups operating in the North-East, in what security officials describe as a major breakthrough in efforts to disrupt terrorist operations.
According to Beyidi Martins, the seizures were made during coordinated military offensives across key insurgent strongholds in Borno State, including the notorious Sambisa Forest and the Timbuktu Triangle.
Martins stated that the recovered devices were being used by members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) to coordinate attacks, maintain logistics, and communicate across remote territories where traditional cellular networks are weak or unavailable.
The devices are linked to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, developed under the leadership of Elon Musk. Security experts say satellite-based internet technology offers insurgents the ability to maintain stable communications even in isolated forest regions where conventional surveillance and telecom monitoring are difficult.
Military authorities said the seizures form part of broader operations aimed at dismantling insurgent infrastructure, disrupting supply routes, and targeting financial and logistical networks supporting terrorist activities in the region.
In addition to recovering communication equipment, troops have reportedly arrested suspected collaborators and intensified intelligence-driven raids across several communities. Officials say these actions have contributed to increasing numbers of insurgents surrendering to security forces in recent months.
Security analysts note that extremist groups increasingly rely on modern communication technologies to evade detection and coordinate operations. Experts believe many of the Starlink devices used by insurgents are smuggled into conflict zones through black-market channels and activated outside Nigeria before being transported into remote areas to bypass restrictions and monitoring.
The development has raised fresh concerns about the unintended use of advanced civilian technology by armed groups and criminal networks operating across the Sahel and Lake Chad regions. Analysts are calling for stronger international cooperation and tighter monitoring mechanisms to prevent such technologies from falling into the hands of terrorists.
Operation Hadin Kai, the Nigerian military’s counterinsurgency campaign in the North-East, has continued to intensify offensives against Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters across several locations in recent months. Authorities maintain that sustained military pressure is weakening insurgent capabilities, though sporadic attacks and security threats remain a major challenge in affected communities.
Residents in parts of Borno and neighboring states have continued to call for stronger security presence and humanitarian support as military operations expand across the region. Meanwhile, security officials insist that ongoing efforts to disrupt communication systems and supply chains will play a crucial role in degrading insurgent operations and restoring stability to the region.
