Assessment of Nigeria’s Response to Threat of Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) in Northeast Nigeria

Abstract

An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) is a homemade device designed and produced to explode and cause destruction. It is a device often used by insurgents and terrorist groups. IEDs are the cause of most of the deaths in modern warfare. Efforts to defeat IED attacks or threats is referred to as Counter-IED efforts. This paper assessed the CIED efforts of the Nigeria armed forces in the Northeast, identified the gaps and made suggestions on how to improve on the Nigeria armed forces current CIED strategy. The data were gathered using document analysis and interview method. The challenges the Nigeria armed forces face in the bid to counter-IEDs include insufficient technical skills and inadequate optimization of Research and Development (R&D) efforts. Others are poor coordination of CIED efforts and inappropriate equipment. To overcome these challenges, the Nigeria armed forces need to establish a Comprehensive CIED Training School and refocus its R&D efforts to enhance local production of CIED Equipment.