An IED planted by Boko Haram terrorists near Gubio in Borno State has reportedly killed at least nine Nigerian soldiers.
According to a report on Monday, the explosives were planted by Boko Haram. The soldiers were travelling from Maiduguri when the deadly incident occurred.
“While coming from Maiduguri town on Saturday, they stopped at a camp on the road to continue their journey on Sunday,” the source said.
Several soldiers sustained injuries in the blast, with fatalities rising after the initial explosion. “Eight died yesterday (Sunday) among those injured, while one more died this morning,” the source added.
Clarifying the nature of the attack, the military source emphasized that it was not an ambush by gunmen but a blast caused by planted explosive devices.
“The incident happened at Gubio, not an ambush. It was caused by explosive devices,” he said, adding that casualties were high, with many sustaining serious injuries.
The affected soldiers were from “145 Damasak under 5 Brigade, Maiduguri, Borno State,” and the incident reportedly occurred towards Sunday evening.
Video and photographs show the aftermath of the blast, depicting several Nigerian Army personnel lying lifeless, some with severe injuries consistent with powerful explosions, including severed body parts.
This incident is the latest in a string of deadly attacks targeting Nigerian troops in the North-East, where Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to launch coordinated assaults on military formations and patrols using both gunfire and explosives.
As of the of time filing this report, the Nigerian Army has not issued an official statement or provided further details on the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
