On 3–4 July 2025, troops of Operation HADIN KAI delivered a significant blow to Boko Haram/ISWAP in Borno State, recovering over 116 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), neutralising insurgents and seizing weapons and logistics.
This report examines the operation’s tactical details, places it within the decade‑long insurgency, and analyses its implications for regional stability and infrastructure security.
Background: A Ten‑Year Struggle
Origins and Evolution
Boko Haram emerged in 2009 as a radical Salafi‑jihadist movement, escalating into full‑blown insurgency by 2010, with its first VBIED attack in June 2011 on UN HQ, Abuja.
Fragmentation and ISWAP
After the death of leader Abubakar Shekau in 2021, the group split; ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) became the more tactically sophisticated faction, focusing its IED campaigns on infrastructure to maximise disruption.
Operation HADIN KAI
Launched in 2015, it remains the Nigerian Army’s primary counter‑terrorism campaign in the Lake Chad Basin, coordinating with the Air Component Command, MNJTF and local vigilantes (CJTF).
The July 2025 Operations: Tactical Overview
| Date | Location | Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 July 2025 | Marte–Dikwa Bridge | Clearance operation by 24 Brigade (EOD teams) | 60 heavily primed IEDs recovered |
| 3 July 2025 | Gubio LGA (Fulatari) | Fighting patrol | One insurgent apprehended; AK‑47, magazine, ammo seized |
| 3 July 2025 | Ngala LGA (Mussini) | Combat engagement | Insurgents dispersed; AK‑47s, motorcycles, fuel, uniforms recovered |
| 4 July 2025 | Dikwa general area | Targeted clearance | 56 IEDs deactivated and removed |
| 4 July 2025 | Mafa LGA (Salekwa) | Encounter with insurgents | Several terrorists killed; AK‑47s, magazines and a body recovered |
Key Quotation
“The recovery has indeed thwarted a disaster that could have occurred in the area,” said Captain Reuben Kovangiya, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations.
Human Toll of IED Campaigns
Daily Trust data shows Boko Haram/ISWAP IED attacks between January 2024 and June 2025 resulted in 121 deaths—77 civilians, 27 soldiers, 17 CJTF members—revealing an uptick in casualties from 56 in 2024 to 65 in H1 2025.
Comparative Historical Analysis
| Year | Estimated IED‑related Civilian Deaths | Government‑claimed IEDs Recovered (Annual) |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ~300 | ~40 |
| 2018 | ~520 | ~55 |
| 2020 | ~450 | ~50 |
| 2022 | ~380 | ~48 |
| 2024 | 56 | (Jan–Dec data incomplete) |
| H1 2025 | 65 | 116 (July operations only) |
Despite incremental tactical successes, civilian IED fatalities peaked in 2018.
The July 2025 recoveries mark the largest single‑operation haul since 2018, signalling improved military intelligence and EOD capabilities.
Strategic Implications
Infrastructure Security: The Marte–Dikwa bridge links vital supply routes; its protection safeguards both military mobility and civilian commerce.
Civilians’ Confidence: High-profile recoveries may embolden displaced populations to return, yet recurring IED threats sustain fear.
Insurgents’ Adaptation: Boko Haram/ISWAP are increasingly relying on low‑signature IED ambushes, shifting from conventional assaults to guerrilla tactics.
Expert Commentary
Governor Babagana Zulum (Borno State):
“We will never relent until every corner of Borno is safe,” he stated after a June ambush near Konduga that killed 12 civilians in a fish‑market bombing.
Security Analyst Dr. Aisha Mohammed (Centre for Strategic Studies):
“The July recoveries reflect a maturation in counter‑IED doctrine, but sustainable victory depends on local intelligence and community engagement.”
Recommendations
Expand EOD Training: Scale specialised Explosive Ordnance Disposal units across all Forward Operating Bases.
Community‑based Intelligence: Incentivise CJTF and local informants with secure, anonymous tip lines.
Maintenance of Critical Infrastructure: Regular security audits and surveillance of bridges, highways and markets.
Psychosocial Support: Provide trauma counselling to affected civilians to facilitate socio‑economic reintegration.
Conclusion
Operation HADIN KAI’s recent recoveries of 116 IEDs and neutralisation of insurgents represent a significant tactical victory in the decade‑long battle against Boko Haram/ISWAP.
Yet the insurgents’ evolving tactics—IED ambushes targeting infrastructure—require a holistic approach combining military precision, intelligence‑driven operations and community outreach.
Only through such integrated strategies can lasting peace and prosperity return to Nigeria’s North‑East.
