At least 26 Nigerian soldiers have been reported killed after their military truck hit an improvised explosive device (IED) while traveling from Damboa to Maiduguri in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria. Another 20 soldiers were seriously wounded and rushed to the 7 Division Nigerian Army Hospital in Maiduguri for treatment.
The deadly blast occurred on Tuesday, coinciding with the handing over ceremony between the former and new General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army. Sources revealed that the soldiers died instantly when their vehicle struck the landmine.
The Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released on Telegram. The incident adds to the escalating violence in the region, which has seen a rising death toll of at least 50 people in recent days amid intensified clashes with Boko Haram and ISWAP militants.
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum recently warned Nigeria’s defense officials that Boko Haram and ISWAP militants are consolidating their presence in strategic areas such as the Lake Chad islands, Sambisa Forest, and Mandara mountains along the Cameroon border, exploiting military setbacks.
Efforts to obtain an official comment from the Nigerian Army’s Acting Director of Public Relations were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. The attack underscores the ongoing security challenges facing Nigeria’s military in its fight against insurgency in the Northeast.
Source: Sahara Reporter