No fewer than nine Nigerian soldiers have been confirmed dead following an explosion caused by improvised explosive devices near Gubio in Borno State.
A senior military source, who spoke to SaharaReporters on Monday morning, confirmed that investigations showed the explosives were planted by Boko Haram insurgents.
The source explained that the soldiers were travelling from Maiduguri when the incident occurred.
“While coming from Maiduguri town on Saturday, they stopped at one camp on the road so they could continue their journey on Sunday,” the source said.
He clarified that the attack was not an ambush by gunmen but an explosion triggered by planted devices.
“The incident happened at Gubio. It was not an ambush; it was caused by explosive devices,” he said.
According to the military source, several soldiers were injured during the explosion, with the death toll rising after the initial blast.
“Eight died yesterday (Sunday) among those who sustained injuries, while one just died this morning,” he disclosed.
He added that many others sustained serious injuries, confirming that “nine people were confirmed dead already.”
The affected troops were identified as soldiers from 145 Damasak under 5 Brigade, Maiduguri, Borno State. The incident reportedly occurred towards the evening on Sunday.
A video and photographs obtained by SaharaReporters showed the grim aftermath of the explosion, with several Nigerian Army personnel lying lifeless at the scene.
The visuals revealed severed body parts on some of the victims, indicating the use of high-powered explosive devices.
The incident is the latest in a string of deadly attacks targeting Nigerian troops in the North-East, where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents continue to strike military formations and patrol routes using explosives and gun attacks.