At least nine Nigerian soldiers have been killed and several others injured following the explosion of improvised explosive devices planted by Boko Haram terrorists near Gubio in Borno State.
According to reports on Monday, the deadly incident occurred while the soldiers were travelling from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. A military source disclosed that the troops departed Maiduguri on Saturday and stopped at a camp along the route, with plans to continue their journey on Sunday.
“While coming from Maiduguri town on Saturday, they stopped at a camp on the road to continue their journey on Sunday,” the source said.
The explosives were reportedly planted along the road by Boko Haram insurgents and detonated as the soldiers passed through the area. Several soldiers sustained serious injuries during the blast, with the death toll rising hours after the incident.
According to the source, eight soldiers who were injured in the explosion died on Sunday, while another soldier succumbed to injuries on Monday morning, bringing the total number of fatalities to nine.
Clarifying the nature of the attack, the military source emphasized that the incident was not an ambush involving gunfire but was caused solely by explosive devices planted along the route.
“The incident happened at Gubio. It was not an ambush by gunmen. It was caused by explosive devices,” the source said, adding that many of the wounded soldiers suffered severe injuries.
The affected troops were identified as personnel from 145 Damasak under 5 Brigade, Maiduguri, Borno State. The explosion reportedly occurred towards Sunday evening, causing significant damage and confusion at the scene.
Videos and photographs from the aftermath of the blast showed several Nigerian Army personnel lying lifeless, while others sustained severe injuries consistent with the impact of a powerful explosion. Some of the images also showed damaged military vehicles and debris scattered across the area.
The incident is the latest in a series of deadly attacks targeting Nigerian troops in the North East, where Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province continue to launch coordinated assaults on military formations and patrols. Insurgent groups in the region have increasingly relied on improvised explosive devices to inflict casualties on security forces.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had not issued an official statement or provided further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the explosion or the condition of the injured soldiers.
The attack has once again raised serious concerns about the security situation in Borno State and the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups operating in the region, despite ongoing military operations aimed at degrading their capabilities.
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