A total of 1,934 improvised explosive device incidents were recorded across Nigeria’s North-East between 2017 and 2024, highlighting the persistent threat posed by insurgent activities in the region.
According to a 2025 Nigeria Mine Action review, road-emplaced IEDs accounted for the majority of the attacks throughout the period, consistently outnumbering body-borne and vehicle-borne devices.
The report showed that 2017 recorded the highest number of incidents with 381 cases, including a significant number of both road-based and body-borne devices.
Incidents declined to 267 in 2018 and further dropped to 189 in 2019, before rising again to 249 in 2020 and 281 in 2021, reflecting fluctuations in insurgent activity.
In 2022, the number fell to 185, with no recorded cases of body-borne IEDs, while 2023 and 2024 each recorded 191 incidents, indicating a relatively stable but ongoing threat.
Across all years, road IEDs remained the most prevalent, underscoring their continued use as a primary tactic by insurgent groups.
The report noted that terrorist groups have increasingly refined their methods, making IEDs more sophisticated and dangerous to both civilians and security forces.
Speaking at a Counter-Improvised Explosive Device workshop in Abuja, the National Counter Terrorism Centre Coordinator, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, described IEDs as one of the most devastating threats faced by troops in counter-terrorism operations.
He explained that insurgents have continuously adapted their detonation techniques over time, evolving from basic wire and telephone-triggered systems to more complex mechanisms such as pressure plates.
Laka added that insurgents have also developed layered explosive systems designed to detonate during defusal attempts, increasing the risk to personnel handling the devices.
He stressed that despite efforts to counter the threat, IEDs remain a major security challenge in Nigeria, particularly in the North-East and North-West, where they continue to endanger lives and infrastructure.
