Boko Haram bomb maker ‘dies after stepping on IED he planted for troops’

Awana Gaidam, a Boko Haram bomb maker, has reportedly died after “stepping on a self-made improvised explosive device” planted for Nigerian troops in Borno state. 

According to Zagazola Makama, a publication focused on the Lake Chad region, Awana planted the IEDs in strategic positions of his camp within the Sambisa forest for fortification against attacks from the troops.

An intelligence source told the publication that Awana was blown to pieces after his vehicle stepped on the IED along Njumia and Arra in Sambisa forest on Monday. 

Awana was said to be responsible for many IED attacks along major highways in Borno state.

“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 publication said. 

“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.”