Six suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were reportedly killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) they were assembling exploded prematurely in Borno State.
The incident occurred around 7am on Friday in Jubilaram, located in Marte Local Government Area, where the insurgents were allegedly producing explosive devices.
Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, disclosed the development in a post on X, citing intelligence sources.
According to the sources, the group was led by a suspected bomb specialist identified as Abu Umar, who died alongside five other fighters in the explosion.
Three additional members of the cell were said to have sustained serious injuries following the blast.
Intelligence reports indicated that the deceased militants belonged to ISWAP’s IED production unit operating along the Marte–Kerenoa–Wulgo corridor, an area within the Lake Chad Basin frequently used by insurgents for movement and logistics.
Sources said the explosion likely happened during the active assembly of the explosive device, triggering a blast that destroyed the makeshift workshop and caused multiple casualties.
Security sources believe the death of Abu Umar and other bomb-making operatives could significantly disrupt ISWAP’s IED activities in the region.
The affected site, reportedly located between Arinna Maimasallaci and Arinna Ciki, has been described as a temporary bomb-making hub now rendered inactive following the incident.
Military intelligence sources also suggested that the development may weaken ISWAP’s operational capacity along strategic routes in the Marte axis, with security agencies considering possible follow-up air and ground offensives to take advantage of the disruption.
ISWAP, a faction linked to Boko Haram insurgents operating in the Lake Chad region, has continued to launch attacks on military formations and civilian communities across northeastern Nigeria.
