Soldiers killed as military van runs into ISWAP landmine in Borno
A Nigerian army patrol vehicle hit a landmine planted by Islamic State group-aligned jihadists near the border with Cameroon, killing eight soldiers, defence sources told AFP Sunday. The attack happened in the…
Borno State remains the epicentre of Nigeria's long-running conflict with Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which has operated in the Lake Chad Basin for over a decade. ISWAP fighters frequently use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and landmines buried along roads used by military convoys, particularly in remote areas near the Cameroon border such as Gamboru, as a low-cost tactic to inflict casualties on troops without direct engagement.
The reported attack, which both outlets say killed eight soldiers, coincided with a visit by the Army Chief to Maiduguri, Borno's capital, though neither Daily Trust nor Legit.ng has detailed whether the visit was linked to the incident or to broader counter-insurgency operations in the state. Details such as the exact location of the blast, the unit involved, and any military response have yet to be officially confirmed by the Nigerian Army, with both reports attributing the information to defence sources speaking to AFP.