A suicide bomber crashed into a military convoy in the Timbuktu triangle area of Borno State, killing five soldiers and injuring an unspecified number of troops.
Security sources confirmed that two senior officers, a major and a lieutenant, were among those affected in the attack.
“The attack caused significant damage to military equipment used for offensive and defensive operations in the weeks-long clearance operations,” said one soldier.
He explained that the terrorists used a car loaded with explosives to strike the convoy.
The troops had been returning from a clearance operation that successfully dislodged several insurgent camps and neutralised many militants when the attack occurred.
“Yes! You know, every operation came with setbacks, but we overcame it. Unfortunately we lost five soldiers in the incident. Manga (the Commander) is hale and hearty and the operation continues, thank you,” an officer who did not want to be named said.
He added that armoured and logistics vehicles were destroyed when the van laden with explosives rammed the convoy on Tuesday. The corpses have been flown to Maiduguri, while injured officers are receiving medical attention.
The Timbuktu triangle is notorious as the location where terrorists previously ambushed a convoy of Brigadier General Musa Uba, capturing and executing him.
Earlier, on Monday, troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), reported clearing multiple terrorist camps and thwarting drone attacks in the area.