A prominent Yobe politician, Wakil Goni Mama, popularly known as Mai Salati, has been arrested by troops of Operation HADIN KAI over allegations of providing logistical support to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists operating in the North-East.
The development was disclosed by counter-terrorism expert Zagazola Makama, who reported that the politician was arrested on Saturday following intelligence reports allegedly linking him to suspected terrorist collaborators.
Sources familiar with the operation said the arrest followed an alleged attempt by Mai Salati to bribe military personnel to secure the release of suspects earlier arrested in Kanamma, Yobe State.
According to the sources, the suspects were being processed for further investigation when the politician allegedly approached soldiers and offered them money to facilitate their release.
The troops reportedly rejected the offer, arrested him and initiated arrangements for his transfer to Maiduguri for further investigation and possible legal action.
The sources added that the arrest followed intelligence-led efforts involving the commander of Sector 2 and the 27 Task Force Brigade to track and apprehend the politician, who was allegedly suspected of serving as a high-profile logistics supplier and collaborator for terrorist groups.
A video reportedly shows the politician attempting to offer money to military personnel in connection with efforts to secure the release of the suspects. However, the allegations against him have yet to be established in court, and the circumstances surrounding the case remain subject to investigation.
The arrest has also generated speculation about possible political interference. Amid the reactions, the Yobe Network Against Violent Extremism has urged the public and political actors to allow security agencies to complete their investigation without undue pressure.
In a statement issued by its convener, Ibrahim Goni, the group warned that social media speculation and politically coloured narratives could distract security agencies from their responsibilities.
The organisation said Yobe and other parts of the North-East had endured years of terrorism, displacement and destruction, leaving thousands of families affected and security personnel dead while defending communities and working to restore stability.
It stressed that allegations involving terrorist financing, logistics, facilitation, recruitment, concealment or material support must be thoroughly investigated, regardless of a suspect’s political affiliation, social standing or personal connections.
“Political identity must neither be treated as evidence of guilt nor used as a shield against lawful investigation,” the statement said.
The group emphasised that an arrest or investigation should not be interpreted as proof of guilt, urging security agencies to follow the evidence and take appropriate legal action based on their findings.
It said terrorist organisations depended not only on armed fighters but also on support networks that provided money, food, fuel, transportation, communications, intelligence and other resources needed to sustain their operations.
According to the group, identifying and dismantling these networks is essential to weakening terrorist organisations and protecting vulnerable communities across the region.
It added that investigations into suspected financiers, suppliers, facilitators and other collaborators were important to security operations because such individuals could help sustain terrorist activities beyond the battlefield.
The organisation also appealed to media organisations, political actors and members of the public to avoid publishing unverified claims, inflammatory commentary or speculation that could compromise the investigation or undermine confidence in security institutions.
It maintained that the case should be handled according to evidence and the rule of law, rather than political affiliations, public pressure or assumptions about the suspect’s guilt or innocence.
“Anyone against whom no evidence is established should be cleared in accordance with the law, while anyone against whom credible evidence is established must face the full legal process,” the statement added.
The group’s intervention comes as the allegations against Mai Salati await further investigation. No court finding establishing his guilt was contained in the information available, and the military’s detailed account of the allegations was not independently confirmed.
West Trybe reports that the arrest highlights the continuing importance of investigating alleged support networks linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-East. The case also underscores the need to balance security investigations with due process, ensuring that credible evidence determines any prosecution while protecting suspects’ rights under the law.
