Eight Nigerian Soldiers Killed by ISWAP Landmine in Borno

On Saturday, eight Nigerian soldiers were killed when their patrol vehicle detonated a landmine allegedly planted by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists near the Nigeria-Cameroon border in Borno State. The explosion occurred in Kinuba village, approximately 25 kilometres from Gamboru, while the soldiers were monitoring anti-jihadist militia clearing bushes along the highway.

The incident coincided with the visit of Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, to Maiduguri, following a recent attack on a military base that resulted in the deaths of 15 soldiers and five militia members. A military officer confirmed that all eight soldiers in the vehicle died in the explosion.

Ibrahim Liman, a member of the anti-jihadist militia, stated that the explosive was remotely detonated and that one militia member sustained shrapnel injuries. The jihadist insurgency, which began in 2009, has seen a resurgence in attacks over the past two years, leading to significant casualties and displacement in the region.