Six suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province, including a bomb-making expert, were killed on Friday after an improvised explosive device exploded prematurely in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident happened around 7:00 a.m. on May 16, 2026, in Jubilaram as the group was reportedly assembling the explosive device. The operation was said to be led by Abu Umar, identified as a bomb expert, who died alongside five other militants, while three additional suspects sustained injuries.
According to intelligence assessments, the deceased were part of ISWAP’s IED network operating along the Marte–Kerenoa–Wulgo corridor within the Lake Chad Basin. The explosion reportedly destroyed the bomb-making site located between Arinna Maimasallaci and Arinna Ciki, a development security sources believe could temporarily affect the group’s operations in the area.
Military sources noted that the incident may weaken ISWAP’s operational capacity along key routes within the Marte axis, while authorities are considering follow-up air and ground offensives to take advantage of the disruption.
