A routine military movement turned into a scene of devastation on Monday when a convoy of Nigerian soldiers was ripped apart by a deadly landmine explosion and subsequent terrorist fire in Borno State, leaving no fewer than nine troops dead and several others gravely injured.
The attack occurred on January 5 near Bindundul village, about 12 miles from Kareto, a volatile area notorious for the presence of fighters linked to the Daesh-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The region has long been described by security operatives as a hotspot where militants operate with alarming boldness, often mounting illegal checkpoints along key routes.
According to two security sources attached to the Damasak brigade, the soldiers were en route from Maiduguri to Damasak, the headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area, when their convoy struck a landmine planted by insurgents. The explosive detonated beneath an armoured vehicle, killing about nine soldiers instantly and leaving at least five others with serious injuries.
The ambush did not end with the blast. A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) who participated in the rescue operation, Abba Kaka Tuja, disclosed that the explosion was followed by sporadic gunfire from nearby militants, compounding the chaos and danger at the scene. The armoured vehicle involved was completely destroyed.
Rescue efforts were reportedly carried out under tense conditions as troops and local volunteers worked to evacuate the wounded amid fears of further attacks. The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by landmines and coordinated assaults along military supply and transit routes in the North-East, despite ongoing counterinsurgency operations.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from military authorities detailing the full extent of the casualties or the operational response following the attack. However, the loss of nine soldiers in a single incident marks one of the deadliest blows to troops in the area in recent times, once again highlighting the dangerous terrain faced daily by security forces battling insurgency in Borno State.
