In what is seen as a major coup in the counterinsurgency war, Boko Haram’s chief bomb maker has been shot dead by a security detail of the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, the Nigerian Army has reported.

To make matters worse for the sect, the man billed to take over the bomb making responsibility, simply identified as Julelebeeb, has gone blind from shrapnel wounds as he tried to impress his leaders by assembling an improvised explosive device, IED.

According to a statement by army spokesperson, Sani Usman, the chief bomb maker, whose name was not given, was killed because he tried to desert the group, possibly sensing that the military was closing in.

“The chief bomb maker, apart from his high status in the command structure of the Boko Haram terrorists, was one of their capable hands involved in making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), coming after their chief scientist, called Abu RPG (who has been killed long ago).

“The chief bomb maker  was killed by one of the body guards of the Boko Haram terrorists leader, Abubakar Shekau, as he was about to run away just like several others are doing because of the intensity of Operation CRACKDOWN,” the statement read.

While admitting that these incidences have greatly affected Boko Haram’s ability, especially in the area of explosive devices, the army said it is not relenting in its efforts to clear out remnants of the group.