Alleged explosives experts of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have lost their lives while assembling Improvise Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Five such ISWAP terrorists, including an alleged medical officer and four IED specialists reportedly lost their lives in the course of a premature explosion.
The accident occurred in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
Intelligence sources including security analyst, Zagazola Makama, confirmed on Tuesday that the incident occurred at Maina Daya Village, located between Sabon Tumbu and Jubilaram, about 29 kilometres east of Monguno Local Government Area of the state.
According to the sources, the explosion killed Usman Dan Fulani, described as an ISWAP medical officer, alongside two foreign Arab IED technicians and two ISWAP bomb-making experts.
The sources said the incident occurred while the terrorists were allegedly preparing improvised explosive devices for deployment, suggesting the group was planning further attacks along key military supply routes in the Sector 1 area of Operation HADIN KAI.
READ ALSO: Naira Redesign: ISWAP Terrorists In Confusion, Opts for…
READ ALSO: Dangerous Drugs Are Flooding The North East, Worsening Terrorism
Security analysts, Vanguard states, believe the loss of experienced bombmakers is a significant setback to ISWAP’s IED 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 of Operation HADIN KAI 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.
