Five Soldiers Die In Borno Explosion

Published

2 years ago

April 27, 2023

Editor

Five Nigerian soldiers died after their vehicle hit a mine suspected to have been planted by Islamic State group-aligned jihadists near the border with Niger, security sources said Wednesday.

The unit was on a routine patrol in Laayi village near the northeastern town of Damasak on Monday when they drove over a mine, two militia leaders told AFP.

The soldiers set off an improvised explosive device suspected to have been planted by the Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) group, militia leader Babakura Kolo said.

The explosion “killed all five troops on board”, he said.

The jihadists had attacked the village the previous night, kidnapping four residents including the local chief and planting the explosives while retreating, Kolo said.

The army spokesman had not responded to AFP’s request for comment on the incident.

A second militia leader, Ibrahim Liman, gave the same account and death toll as Kolo.

The militiamen, who fight alongside the military, were not present during the incident but said they were briefed on the matter.

ISWAP which split from the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016 has become a dominant threat in Nigeria, attacking soldiers on patrol while killing and kidnapping passengers at checkpoints.

The two rival jihadist factions have clashed in recent months while the military has intensified its offensive against the groups.

The military is set up in large bases known as “super camps” across the region, leaving some villages and rural areas unprotected and more vulnerable to attacks.

Last month three soldiers were killed and four others injured along with seven civilians in a mine explosion targeting a military truck outside the town of Banki near the border with Cameroon.

The 14-year-old insurgency has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced more than two million, according to the UN.

The violence has spread to parts of neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the militants.

Four Die As Bomb Explosion Rocks Borno

Published

13 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

Photo: File copy

A bomb explosion has reportedly killed four travellers in Borno State, with many others sustaining injuries.

According to reports by local media, the bomb exploded around 3:00 pm on Wednesday along the Damboa-Maiduguri road.

The incident involved a car carrying an unconfirmed number of passengers.

DAILY POST reports that bomb explosions also occurred a few weeks ago along Damboa-Maiduguri road, killing seven people.

The road is one of the major routes for terrorists, who often plant bombs to discourage other users.

Security authorities are yet to confirm the incident at the time of filing this report.

JUST IN: Many Killed As Soldiers, Bandits Exchange Gunfire In Kaduna

Published

23 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

Scores of bandits and some military personnel have been killed following a gun battle in Niger and Kaduna States.

Nigerian Army Headquarters made the disclosure in a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday.

The statement said the operations were carried out in Kwanar Dutse Mairiga and Boka, Niger State, and Aungwan Turai, Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.

The daredevil terrorists had launched an unprovoked attack on the aforementioned areas.

REAS ALSO:Police Neutralise Bandit, Rescue 5 Kidnapped Victims In Katsina

According to the statement, in response to the attacks, “land and air component troops launched several counter-attacks that eliminated scores of bandits in the encounters.

“Sadly, some gallant warriors paid the supreme price in the day-long battles, while four wounded in-action troops are currently receiving treatment for their gunshot wounds. Additional updates later.”

Metro

Police Detain 3 Nsukka Masqueraders For Allegedly Assaulting Residents

Published

1 day ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

The police command in Enugu State has detained three masqueraders in the Nsukka area of the state for allegedly assaulting law-abiding citizens.

The command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement in Enugu on Tuesday that police operatives, with the assistance of members of the community, led to the arrest of the suspects on June 23 at 3:30 p.m.

He said that the arrest of the suspects was in connection with the alleged physical assault of citizens by the ‘Oriokpa’ Masquerade group on June 22 as seen in a viral video.

“The suspects, along with others still at large, took advantage of the ‘Oriokpa’ Masquerade celebration to assault several innocent members of the public, inflicting bodily injuries on them.

“One of the victims was hospitalised for treatment due to injuries sustained during the attack.

“The masqueraders initially resisted police arrest and fled the scene.

“However, with the assistance of law-abiding community members, the three suspects were later identified and apprehended,” he said.

The spokesman said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had ordered a thorough investigation into the case to ensure that justice was served.

Ndukwe quoted the commissioner as saying that masquerade celebration was a sacred and symbolic aspect of the nation’s culture.

He said that the state police chief, however, decried the actions of those who exploited the occasion to commit criminal acts.

Ndukwe said that the commissioner warned against the use of cultural festivities as a cover for fomenting trouble and committing crimes against fellow citizens, as perpetrated by the ‘Oriokpa’ masqueraders.

“The command is assuring the public that all those involved in the assault of law-abiding citizens will be brought to justice,” he added.

(NAN)