At least 15 people, including 10 Nigerian soldiers and five members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have been killed after suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked a military convoy in Borno State.
The attack occurred on Saturday along a road between Gamboru Ngala and neighbouring Cameroon when a pickup truck conveying soldiers struck a landmine believed to have been planted by the insurgents, reports Channels TV.
According to two military sources, eight soldiers died instantly in the explosion, while gunmen subsequently opened fire on a second vehicle, killing two additional soldiers and five members of the civilian security outfit supporting military operations.
Six wounded soldiers were evacuated to the Maimalari Military Hospital in Maiduguri for treatment, the sources disclosed.
The military sources requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the military proved unsuccessful, as military spokesperson, Captain Mohammed Goni, declined requests for comment.
Borno State remains the epicentre of an insurgency spearheaded by Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Despite sustained military operations, the two groups continue to launch attacks against security personnel and civilians, frequently deploying roadside explosives and ambushes across northeastern Nigeria and areas close to the country’s borders.
The latest attack comes barely a week after suspected Boko Haram fighters reportedly killed at least 10 soldiers and wounded at least 20 others in a coordinated assault on an army base in Borno State.
