Security agencies are investigating a 25-year-old man arrested in military camouflage at Kashim Ibrahim University, Maiduguri, over suspected links to criminal intelligence gathering.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama on Monday that the suspect, identified as Mubarak Mohammed, was apprehended at about 4:30 p.m. on July 1, 2026, at the university’s Njimtilo campus after troops became suspicious of his appearance in a desert camouflage uniform.
According to the sources, the suspect initially claimed during preliminary questioning that he was a newly admitted student and had borrowed the military uniform from a civilian friend to attend the institution’s Career Week programme.
However, the claim unraveled during interrogation. The suspect could not communicate in English, failed to produce a valid student identity card, and could not access the university’s student portal on his mobile phone to verify his admission status.
Troops contacted the university management through the institution’s Systems Manager, who confirmed that the suspect was not a registered student.
The official also said only final-year students were participating in the Career Week activities, contradicting the suspect’s claim that he attended the event as a newly admitted student.
Security sources said the suspect is being investigated over suspicions that he may have been gathering intelligence under the guise of a soldier.
He remains in the custody of the 73 Battalion for further investigation.
Military authorities reiterated their warning against the unlawful use of military uniforms, noting that impersonating members of the Armed Forces poses a serious security threat and could be exploited by criminal and terrorist elements.
