At least six suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), including a bomb-making specialist identified as Abu Umar, were reportedly killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded prematurely in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources said the incident occurred around 7:00 a.m. on Friday in Jubilaram, where the insurgents were allegedly assembling explosives when the device detonated unexpectedly.
According to intelligence reports, Abu Umar, believed to be a key figure in ISWAP’s explosives network, died alongside five other militants, while three additional members of the group reportedly sustained severe injuries.
The explosion reportedly destroyed the suspected IED assembly site, disrupting insurgent activities within the Marte–Kerenoa–Wulgo corridor in the Lake Chad Basin.
Security analysts believe the death of experienced bomb-makers could weaken ISWAP’s capacity to manufacture and deploy explosives in the region.
Military authorities are also said to be considering follow-up operations to exploit the setback as counterinsurgency efforts continue across Nigeria’s North-East.
