Police Neutralise IEDs on Borno Highway as Zulum, Security Chiefs Assess Foiled Boko Haram Attack

Security operatives in Borno State on Thursday successfully detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along Ngwaom–Mafa road by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, following a foiled midnight attack earlier in the week.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, alongside the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid, and senior military officers, visited the affected areas for a post-attack assessment. The controlled detonation of the explosives averted potential harm to both commuters and security personnel, the police confirmed.

Speaking on the operation, ASP Nahum Daso, spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, joined Governor Babagana Zulum and senior security officials on a joint scene assessment in Mafa and Dikwa Local Government Areas, following a foiled attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on the night of 22nd–23rd October, 2025.”

According to Daso, the insurgents engaged security forces in a fierce gun battle but were repelled, resulting in significant casualties and the recovery of arms and ammunition.

“During the joint convoy assessment, operatives of the Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD–CBRN) Base 13, Maiduguri, discovered two IEDs buried along Ngwaom–Mafa road, which were safely detonated in a controlled operation,” he added.

The police commissioner praised the dedication and professionalism of the security forces and reaffirmed the command’s readiness to deploy additional personnel and logistics to sustain operational efficiency and maintain security in the state.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai reportedly killed over 50 terrorists while repelling multiple coordinated assaults on military positions in Borno and Yobe States. The attacks occurred between midnight and 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, targeting locations in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko within the Joint Operations Area.

Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, Media Officer of the Joint Task Force North East (OPHK), said the troops responded decisively, inflicting heavy losses on the terrorists.

Governor Zulum expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration of security agencies, emphasizing that the synergy is crucial for maintaining peace and stability across Borno State.