Luck ran out of six suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), including a bomb expert, as they were on Friday killed when an improvised explosive device detonated prematurely in Marte Local Government Area.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the explosion occurred around 7:00 a.m. on May 16, 2026, at Jubilaram while the terrorists were assembling the device.
It was gathered that the team was led by Abu Umar, who was identified as a bomb expert and, but also died in the explosion along with five other terrorists just as three others were reportedly injured.
Intelligence assessments stated that the deceased were part of ISWAP’s IED cell operating along the Marte–Kerenoa–Wulgo axis in the Lake Chad Basin.
It was also gathered that the explosion destroyed the site, located between Arinna Maimasallaci and Arinna Ciki, and is expected to temporarily disrupt the group’s bomb-making operations in the area.
Similarly, military sources said the incident could weaken ISWAP’s capability along key routes in the Marte axis even as authorities are considering a follow-up air and ground operations to exploit the disruption.
