Chadian security forces arrested Muslim Mohammed Yusuf, the 18-year-old son of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf, along with five other suspected jihadists in a raid in Chad, where he was allegedly leading a cell linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram splinter group, as confirmed by AFP on August 18, 2025. A Nigerian intelligence source in the Lake Chad region stated, “The team was headed by Muslim, the youngest son of the late Boko Haram founder,” noting his alias as Abdrahman Mahamat Abdoulaye and his relation to ISWAP leader Habib Yusuf (Abu Mus’ab Al-Barnawi). A former Boko Haram lieutenant corroborated the arrest, saying, “He and the team were arrested by Chadian security. They are six in number.” Chadian police confirmed apprehending six undocumented Boko Haram members months ago but did not specify Yusuf’s identity, per police spokesman Paul Manga.
The arrest, reported to have occurred earlier in 2025, follows increased Boko Haram activity in the Lake Chad region, including a deadly October 2024 attack killing 40 Chadian soldiers. Photos obtained by AFP show a young man resembling Yusuf, underscoring his alleged role in the cell. The operation highlights ongoing efforts to disrupt jihadist networks in the Sahel.
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