Islamic State of West Africa Clouds Road Travel with Fear
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By Segun Onibiyo
Borno State, Nigeria – A midday sun beat down on the dusty Damboa–Maiduguri Road Saturday as a commercial bus rumbled through the dry northern terrain under military escort. The journey, though routine, turned fatal. Without warning, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated beneath the vehicle, ripping through the bus and killing at least eight passengers. Several more were injured in the explosion, reportedly planted by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants.
The attack occurred on April 12 around noon, shaking a heavily guarded convoy of civilian and commercial vehicles traveling from Damboa to Maiduguri, Borno State’s capital. Despite the military escort and deployment of anti-bomb squads, the persistent threat of roadside bombs continues to haunt this corridor, one of the most perilous highways in northeastern Nigeria.
Saturday’s blast marks the latest in a series of violent attacks in the region, reigniting fears of ISWAP’s resurgence. The group, an offshoot of Boko Haram, has maintained a bloody presence in the Lake Chad region, targeting both civilians and security forces with increasing frequency.
A Growing Pattern of Terror
The Maiduguri–Damboa road is a lifeline for many residents, but travel is allowed only two days per week due to the threat of IEDs and ambushes. The Nigerian military provides heavily armed escorts during these restricted windows.
Three residents told TruthNigeria the fear is now routine.
“I use that road all the time,” said Abbagana Damboa, a commercial driver. “I passed there just last week. When I heard about the blast, I couldn’t sleep. That could’ve been me.”
Halima Musa, a trader traveling frequently between the two towns, said to TruthNigeria that the psychological toll is crushing. “Each time I get on a bus, I say my final prayers. That’s our reality now,” she said.
Another resident, 23-year-old student Adamu Lawan, shared his thoughts with TruthNigeria, “We are used to the sounds of bombs, but we’re not used to losing our brothers and sisters. That never gets easier.”
Ballistics Experts Sound the Alarm
Three independent ballistics and counter-IED experts contacted by TruthNigeria confirmed the IED used in Saturday’s explosion bore hallmarks of ISWAP design.
Dr. Idris Khalid, a defense analyst and former army bomb technician, explained via telephone to TruthNigeria, “The device was likely pressure-activated and planted in advance using known civilian travel patterns. ISWAP has been refining these tactics for years. It has their mark on it.”
American trained security consultant Bakare Onile while speaking to TruthNigeria reporter said, “the device’s sophistication. “The explosive force was concentrated and devastating — likely triggered by weight sensors. These are not crude devices.”
Meanwhile, a retired British EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) officer Muli Bukar, said, “It’s a chilling reminder that ISWAP maintains high operational capability despite military pressure. Their IEDs are tactically placed, often impossible to detect without specialized clearance equipment.”
A Deadly History of Roadside Bombings
Maiduguri and surrounding towns have suffered repeated IED attacks since Boko Haram launched its insurgency in 2009. According to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), at least 1,320 IED-related incidents have occurred in Borno State between 2011 and 2024, resulting in over 4,800 fatalities.
Recent incidents include a March 12 bombing that injured multiple Nigerian police officers on the Maiduguri–Damaturu road. Less than ten days later, on March 21, another IED blast claimed the lives of four passengers on a commercial vehicle in Borno.
Boko Haram and ISWAP have increasingly targeted civilian movement as part of their asymmetric warfare strategy, particularly after losing territorial control in major urban centers.
Governor Zulum Raises Red Flag
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who has long decried the worsening security in the region, traveled to Abuja last week to meet with Nigeria’s military service chiefs. He urged them to escalate counter-insurgency operations, warning that civilian confidence in government protection is “dangerously low.”
Following Saturday’s attack, a police spokesperson confirmed to TruthNigeria that the wounded were evacuated to the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri, while a joint military-police clearance operation was underway.
“Security forces are doing their best, but the threat remains complex,” the officer said, requesting anonymity due to protocol.
TruthNigeria Blog Confirms Local Reports
TruthNigeria, an independent news platform monitoring conflict zones in Nigeria, also confirmed the April 12 explosion through local stringers and emergency contacts. The report echoed that the convoy was traveling within the permitted movement window and included both civilian and commercial vehicles.
As families mourn in Damboa and Maiduguri, the growing frequency of these attacks underscores a chilling reality: roads once representing freedom of movement are now corridors of death. The people of Borno, caught between survival and uncertainty, continue to plead for peace in a land long torn by war.
Segun Onibiyo reports on terrorism and conflict for TruthNigeria.
