Premature Explosion Kills 5 ISWAP Bombmakers and Medical Officer in Borno

Five suspected ISWAP terrorists, including a medical officer and four explosives experts, have been killed in a premature explosion while assembling improvised explosive devices in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.

Intelligence sources and security analyst Zagazola Makama confirmed on Tuesday that the incident occurred in Maina Daya Village, located between Sabon Tumbu and Jubilaram. The village is about 29 kilometers east of Monguno Local Government Area.

The sources said the group was allegedly preparing the explosives for use along key military supply routes in Sector 1 of Operation HADIN KAI. The area covering Marte, Monguno and Gamboru Ngala has seen repeated attacks targeting troops and civilian convoys.

It is not clear what triggered the premature detonation. Security analysts believe the explosion happened inside a makeshift workshop where the terrorists were working on multiple devices at once.

Security experts say the loss is a significant blow to ISWAP’s bomb-making capacity in the Lake Chad region.

“The death of experienced bombmakers and foreign technicians will temporarily weaken their ability to produce and plant roadside IEDs,” one analyst noted. “These are not foot soldiers. These are the people who train others and design the devices.”

IED attacks have been one of ISWAP’s main tactics in Borno. They are used to target military vehicles, disrupt supply lines, and create fear along civilian routes. The loss of four specialists at once is expected to slow the group’s operations in the Marte-Monguno axis in the short term.

Commanders have ordered intensified patrols, cordon-and-search operations, and precision strikes around Monguno, Marte, and Gamboru Ngala. The goal is to prevent ISWAP from regrouping or recruiting new bombmakers to replace those killed.

Troops are also sweeping surrounding villages for hidden explosives, weapons caches, and other members of the cell.

“The idea is to keep pressure on them now that they are vulnerable,” a source said. “We don’t want them to recover quickly.”

ISWAP and Boko Haram factions have continued to operate in parts of Borno, Yobe, and around the Lake Chad Basin despite years of military operations.

IEDs remain one of their most deadly tools. They are cheap to make, easy to hide, and have caused heavy casualties among both soldiers and civilians.

The Nigerian military, working with regional partners, has made the destruction of bomb-making networks a priority. Previous operations have targeted IED factories, but experts say foreign technicians are often brought in to replace local experts who are killed or arrested.

The presence of Arab nationals among those killed suggests ISWAP is still receiving external support for its explosives program.

Residents in communities near Maina Daya said they heard a loud blast on Monday evening followed by secondary explosions.

Many have called for increased security presence, saying the only way to stop IED attacks is to cut off the people who make them.

“Their bombmakers are more dangerous than their fighters,” one community leader said. “If you take them out, the bombs stop coming.”

A success because five key ISWAP operatives are dead. A warning because it shows the group was actively preparing new attacks.

The military says it will sustain pressure in the area to ensure the group cannot quickly rebuild its IED cell.

As the fight in the North East continues, officials say intelligence gathering and community cooperation will be critical to locating the remaining bombmakers before they strike.