No fewer than nine Nigerian soldiers were killed on Monday, January 5, after their military convoy ran into a landmine and was subsequently attacked near Bindundul village in Borno State.
The incident occurred about 12 miles from Kareto, a volatile area where fighters linked to the Daesh-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are reported to operate freely and occasionally mount illegal checkpoints.
According to two security sources attached to the Damasak brigade, the assailants had planted an explosive device on the route used by the troops. The landmine detonated as the convoy passed, leading to the immediate death of nine soldiers, while five others sustained serious injuries.
A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force who participated in the rescue effort, Abba Kaka Tuja, confirmed that an armoured military vehicle was destroyed in the explosion, which was followed by sporadic gunfire from the attackers.
The soldiers were said to be en route from Maiduguri to Damasak, the headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area, when the deadly attack occurred.
