5 ISWAP Bomb Makers, Medical Officer Die In Borno Explosion

Five suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, including an alleged medical officer and four improvised explosive device (IED) specialists, have been reportedly killed in a premature explosion while assembling improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Marte local government area of Borno State.

Intelligence sources, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert, said the incident occurred at Maina Daya Village, located between Sabon Tumbu and Jubilaram, about 29 kilometres east of Monguno.

According to the sources, the explosion killed Usman Dan Fulani, described as an ISWAP medical officer, alongside two Arab IED technicians and two ISWAP bomb-making experts.

The sources said the incident occurred when the terrorists were preparing the devices for deployment, suggesting the group was planning further attacks along key military supply routes in the Sector 1 area of “Operation Hadin Kai.”

Security analysts believe the loss of experienced bomb-makers is a significant setback to ISWAP’s network and could temporarily weaken the group’s capability to carry out roadside bomb attacks in the Marte-Monguno axis.

Military sources disclosed that troops have been directed to exploit the development by intensifying patrols, cordon-and-search operations, and precision offensive actions around Monguno, Marte, and Gamboru Ngala to prevent the terrorist group from regrouping or rebuilding its IED capability.