A commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) has been killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) suspected to have been planted by insurgents exploded near Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the incident occurred along the Lake Chad axis while the CJTF commander was travelling through the area in a vehicle targeted by the explosion.
Security sources quoted in the report said the deceased was actively involved in supporting counter-insurgency operations against armed groups operating in Nigeria’s North-East.
The blast reportedly destroyed the vehicle and killed the commander instantly.
The attackers are believed to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an armed group known for deploying roadside explosives against security personnel and civilian vigilante groups in the Lake Chad region.
The attack adds to a series of IED incidents linked to ISWAP in Borno State. In 2024, eight CJTF members were killed and three others injured after a roadside bomb exploded in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area while they were travelling to Maiduguri.
