Tragedy has struck the Nigerian military as no fewer than 26 soldiers were reportedly killed when their truck hit an improvised explosive device in restive Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
Another 20 soldiers were also reported to have been seriously wounded and taken to the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army hospital in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Military sources told SaharaReporters on Tuesday evening that the incident occurred when a military truck conveying soldiers from Damboa to Maiduguri hit a landmine.
According to the source, “Twenty-six Nigerian soldiers were killed today (Tuesday) as they were moving from Damboa to Maiduguri, Borno State capital. The incident happened when their truck hit a landmine, killing 26 soldiers on the spot. Twenty other soldiers were equally wounded and have been taken to the 7 Division, Nigerian Army Hospital for treatment.”
The deadly blast, one of the sources who pleaded anonymity said, occurred while the handing over ceremony of the former General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Haruna, to the new GOC for the Division, Brig-Gen. V. I. Una Nwachukwu, was taking place.
The incident comes amid increasing violence in northeast Nigeria in recent days, with the death toll rising to at least 50 people.
The region has been plagued for decades by armed groups, including the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, with violence flaring up in recent days.
The Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Telegram on Tuesday.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, had earlier told Nigeria’s defence minister and military chiefs that Boko Haram and ISWAP were entrenching themselves in Lake Chad islands, Sambisa Forest, and Mandara mountains on the border with Cameroon due to “military setbacks.”
Meanwhile, the military has yet to confirm the incident as SaharaReporters efforts to speak with the Acting Director, Nigeria Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Apolonia Anele were unsuccessful as she could not be reached on telephone as at the time of filing this report.