According to two non-governmental organizations operating in the region, a tragic incident occurred in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state near the Cameroon border, resulting in the death of at least 12 loggers.
The loggers were en route to the wilderness to gather firewood when their vehicle collided with a landmine allegedly planted by Boko Haram extremists. This incident took place on the highway outside Pulka village, as stated in two reports reviewed by AFP on Monday.
Despite the ongoing efforts to combat the Islamist insurgency in northeast Nigeria, terrorists continue to target rural areas, even after being pushed back from the vast territories they once occupied during the peak of the conflict.
One of the reports mentioned that individuals suspected to be Boko Haram planted explosives, leading to the loss of 12 lives and causing injuries to several others along the Pulka to Gwoza route.
According to another report, seven additional loggers were injured, with three of them in critical condition and evacuated to Maiduguri for further medical attention.
The Nigerian security forces did not provide any response to the request for confirmation regarding the blast. Recently, there has been a rise in mine explosions targeting civilian convoys, which have been attributed to jihadists. In July 2014, Boko Haram seized Gwoza and established it as the headquarters of their self-proclaimed caliphate.
Nigerian troops recaptured the area in March 2015, the jihadists continue to carry out raids on nearby villages from their hideouts in the bordering mountains of Cameroon. As a result, residents from the affected villages have sought refuge in Gwoza and nearby Pulka, where they live in camps under the protection of the military.
Troops conduct regular patrols in the area to prevent the militants from harming or kidnapping residents who venture into the bush, particularly women who gather acacia fruits and firewood.
Both Boko Haram and the rival Islamic State West Africa Province target loggers, farmers, and herders, accusing them of spying for the military and anti-jihadist militias.
Since the start of the rebellion by the hardline Islamist group in 2009, over 40,000 people have lost their lives, and more than two million others have been displaced. The insurgency has also spread to neighboring countries such as Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, leading to the formation of a regional military force to combat the militants.
