Road-emplaced improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have emerged as the most persistent and dangerous form of attack in Nigeria’s North-East, accounting for the majority of explosive incidents recorded in the region over the past several years, according to the 2025 Nigeria Mine Action report.
The findings highlight the continued vulnerability of highways and rural routes to roadside bomb attacks despite fluctuations in overall incident numbers.
The roadside IEDs consistently accounted for the majority of incidents throughout the period, surpassing both body-borne and vehicle-borne devices.
“Road IEDs remained consistently high every year, making them the most persistent security risk,” the report noted.
Data from the report shows that 2017 recorded the highest number of attacks, totaling 381 incidents. These included 165 road-emplaced IEDs, 211 body-borne devices, four vehicle-borne explosives, and one other type of device.
In 2018, total incidents dropped to 267, with 149 road IEDs, 99 body-borne, and 10 vehicle-borne attacks. The downward trend continued in 2019 with 189 cases, comprising 117 road IEDs, 32 body-borne, four vehicle-borne, four “other” devices, and 32 explosive remnants of war (ERW).
Incidents increased again in 2020 to 249, with roadside bombs accounting for 187 cases, alongside 23 body-borne devices, six vehicle-borne attacks, two others, and 31 ERW.
“Road-emplaced devices significantly outnumbered other types of IEDs across the review period,” the report stated.
The findings underscore the enduring threat of improvised explosives in the North-East, particularly along transport corridors, despite fluctuations in overall attack numbers over the years.