Five suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) they were reportedly assembling exploded prematurely in Borno State.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication covering the Lake Chad region, the incident occurred in Maina Daya village, Marte Local Government Area of the state.
The village is situated between Sabon Tumbu and Jubilaram, about 29 kilometres east of Monguno.
Citing security sources, the publication reported that Usman Dan Fulani, an ISWAP medical officer, was among those killed in the blast.
The sources added that two foreign IED experts and two suspected bomb-making specialists linked to the insurgent group also died in the explosion.
The suspected fighters were said to have been preparing explosive devices for operations when the incident occurred.
Security sources suggested that the group may have been planning attacks along major military supply routes within Sector 1 of Operation HADIN KAI.
Security analysts reportedly said the loss of the suspected bomb-making experts could temporarily affect ISWAP’s ability to carry out roadside bomb attacks along the Marte-Monguno axis.
Meanwhile, military sources disclosed that troops have been instructed to increase patrols, conduct cordon-and-search operations and carry out targeted offensives around Monguno, Marte and Gamboru Ngala.
The publication noted that the operations are aimed at preventing the insurgent group from regrouping and rebuilding its IED-making capacity.