The Nigerian Army on July 29, 2025, successfully thwarted a meticulously planned attempt by Boko Haram insurgents to plant an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on a strategic bridge in Borno State’s Damboa Local Government Area, demonstrating a significant defensive operation.
Acting on actionable intelligence gathered through a network of local informants, troops from the 21 Armoured Brigade launched a pre-dawn raid at 3:00 AM, engaging three insurgents in a brief but intense firefight that resulted in the deaths of two terrorists. The operation yielded the recovery of 15 kilograms of explosives, including C-4 charges and remotely triggered detonators, alongside military-grade communication devices, underscoring the plot’s sophistication.
The targeted bridge, a vital artery on the Maiduguri-Damboa road, supports approximately 500 vehicles daily, including humanitarian convoys delivering aid to 1.2 million displaced persons in the region. The army’s swift response, supported by aerial reconnaissance from the Nigerian Air Force, prevented what could have been a catastrophic disruption to both transportation and relief efforts, especially given the ongoing insurgency that has claimed 150 lives across Borno in 2025, according to the Borno State Emergency Management Agency.
Army spokesperson Major General Edward Buba highlighted a 20% increase in proactive patrols since June, attributing success to enhanced training and equipment upgrades, including night-vision technology. However, experts from the International Crisis Group caution that the operation’s effectiveness is limited by persistent community distrust, with only 30% of locals cooperating due to fear of reprisals.
The narrative of military prowess is encouraging, but the broader challenge of securing the Northeast requires sustained intelligence-sharing and community engagement to dismantle the insurgents’ operational capacity.