At least 16 individuals were believed to have lost their lives, with 20 others sustaining injuries, following an unfortunate incident involving a commercial vehicle on the Baga-Kukawa Road in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. The vehicle reportedly ran over an improvised explosive device suspected to have been planted by ISWAP terrorists.
According to reliable military intelligence sources, the tragic event took place on Wednesday, April 17, as disclosed by Zagazola Makama, a knowledgeable counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region.
Despite initial reports suggesting 10 fatalities, credible sources informed OBASANJONEWS24 that the actual number of casualties was no less than 16. The 7th Division’s spokesperson, Lt. Col. Ajemusu Jingina, refrained from commenting on the incident, citing the jurisdiction of the Multi-National Joint Task Force headquartered in Ndjamena, Chad Republic.
A Baga resident, Bukar Wakil, shared details over the phone with OBASANJONEWS24, indicating that the IED was likely targeted at military personnel but tragically affected civilians when the commercial vehicle unknowingly triggered the explosive, resulting in the loss of lives and injuries among passers-by.
Expressing concern over the escalating attacks by ISWAP in the Lake Chad basin, Maiduguri-based security expert Abdullahi Abubakar highlighted the complex dynamics at play. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to address the resurgence of violence, attributing it to the ongoing power struggle between Boko Haram and ISWAP, with implications for the security landscape in northern Borno.
