Dare Babalola
Six suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were reportedly killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded prematurely in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, disclosed the development in a post shared on X on Saturday, citing security and intelligence sources.
According to the report, the incident occurred around 7:00 a.m. on May 16, 2026, at Jubilaram, where the suspected insurgents were allegedly assembling explosive materials.
Sources said the group was led by a suspected bomb-making specialist identified as Abu Umar, who was among those killed in the blast alongside five other militants.
Three additional members of the group were also said to have sustained severe injuries following the explosion.
Intelligence assessments reportedly identified the deceased suspects as members of an ISWAP IED-production unit operating within the Marte–Kerenoa–Wulgo corridor, an area considered a major route for insurgent activities within the Lake Chad Basin.
The explosion was believed to have occurred while the device was being prepared, triggering a premature detonation that destroyed the suspected bomb-making location and caused multiple casualties among the operatives.
Security sources noted that the death of Abu Umar and other bomb-making operatives could significantly weaken ISWAP’s capacity to deploy improvised explosive devices in the area.
The blast was also reported to have affected an IED fabrication hub situated between Arinna Maimasallaci and Arinna Ciki, which may have been rendered temporarily inactive as a result of the incident.
Military sources further indicated that the development could reduce the operational strength of ISWAP fighters along strategic routes in the Marte axis.
Authorities are reportedly considering follow-up air and ground offensives aimed at exploiting the situation and limiting the movement and activities of insurgents within the area.
