Notorious bomb maker and a top ranking member of the Boko Haram Terrorist Group, Awana Gaidam has been killed by his own Improvised Explosive Device(IED).
The 39-year-old bomb maker, apart from his high ranking status in the command structure of the terrorist group was regarded as one of the capable hands involved in making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Awana was believed to be responsible for planting several IEDs attacks against troops of Operation Hadin Kai during fighting patrols that take place along major highways between Maiduguri to Damboa, Bama to Pulka and Bita as well as Banki to Darajamal general area.
Intelligence Sources had disclosed that the one of the bomb struck his vehicle along Njumia and Arra in the Sambisa forest general area on March 27, causing his death instantly.
The sources made it know that Awana had planted bombs in strategic positions to fortify his camp situated in the Sambisa forest but little did he know that his evil plot to kill soldiers and derail military operations in the general area, would come back to hunt for his life as the explosive device had shattered his body into several pieces.
For some perspective on the immense proportions of this development, since 2022, Boko Haram and ISWAP have carried out more than 90 attacks in the North East using IEDs.
The insurgents had kept on using IEDs in response to increased and sustained pressure of the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai with support of the combined troops of the Multination Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Niger, Cameroon and Chad in the Lake Chad sub-region.
The killing of Awana, therefore represents a serious blow to the operational capability of the Terrorists.
The death of Awana could be best described as a major breakthrough in the Nigerian military’s Counter Terrorism Operation in the North East.
It remains to be seen how the Nigerian military will exploit this development for more successes
