A Boko Haram chief bomb maker and a high ranking terrorist identified as Awana Gaidam, has been killed by his own Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst, who disclosed this on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, said the 39-year-old chief bomb maker, apart from his high status in the command structure of the Boko Haram terrorists, was one of their capable hands involved in making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Awana was believed to be responsible for plotting many IEDs attack on troops of Operation Hadin Kai during fighting patrols, along major highways between Maiduguri to Damboa, Bama to Pulka and Bita as well as Banki to Darajamal’s general area.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the bomb struck his vehicle along Njumia and Arra in the Sambisa forest, on March 27, killing him instantly.
The sources said that Awana had planted bombs in strategic positions to fortify his camp within the sambisa forest but little did he know that he would fall for his own trap as the device he plotted blew him up and shattered his body into pieces.
Since 2022, Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province had 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.
“The killing of Awana, therefore represent a serious blow to operational capability of the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, terrorists group,” Zagazola added.