A Boko Haram bomb maker, Awana Gaidam, has reportedly died after stepping on a self-made improvised explosive device planted for Nigerian troops in Borno state.
According to Counter Insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, Awana planted the IEDs in strategic positions of his camp within the Sambisa forest for fortification against attacks from the troops.
Speaking with Makama, an intelligence source said Awana was blown to pieces after his vehicle stepped on the IED along Njumia and Arra in Sambisa forest on Monday.
According to the source, the Boko Haram member was responsible for many IED attacks along major highways in Borno state.
The source said: “Since 2022, Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province have carried out more than 90 indiscriminate attacks in the north east using Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).
“The insurgents resorted to the use of IEDs as a result of the increased and sustained pressure by the joint efforts of the Nigerian Army, Air Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai with support of the combined troops of the Multination Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Niger, Cameroon and Chad in the LakeChad sub-region.
“Therefore, the killing of Awana represents a serious blow to the operational capability of the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, terrorists group.”