BREAKING: Bomb Explosion Kills About 8 Nigerian Soldiers in Borno
At least eight Nigerian soldiers have lost their lives after a military convoy struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) allegedly planted by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.
POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the incident occurred on Thursday as troops attached to the 24 Task Force Brigade in Dikwa were returning to their base from Maiduguri.
Sources familiar with the operation disclosed that the soldiers had escorted food supplies and other essential logistics to Dikwa and were on their way back when tragedy struck.
According to a military source, the leading vehicle in the convoy, a gun truck carrying several personnel, ran over an explosive device suspected to have been buried along the route by insurgents.
“Yesterday, Thursday, the leading vehicle, a gun truck ran into an IED on their way back to Dikwa from Maiduguri. All the soldiers in that vehicle died on the spot. About eight of them,” the source said.
The explosion reportedly destroyed the vehicle and left no chance of survival for the occupants.
The identities and ranks of the deceased personnel were yet to be officially confirmed at the time of filing this report.
However, the use of IEDs has become one of the deadliest tactics employed by insurgents in the region.
Explosives are often concealed along roads used by military convoys transporting personnel, fuel, food and operational equipment between Maiduguri, Dikwa, Bama, Marte and other frontline locations.
Several soldiers have been killed in similar incidents over the past year. In June, three soldiers reportedly died while others sustained injuries after their vehicle struck an IED along the Marte-Dikwa road.
Earlier in April 2025, terrorists ambushed a military convoy operating within the Dikwa axis, killing soldiers and destroying operational vehicles.
Despite sustained military offensives against insurgent camps, attacks have continued in parts of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, where troops of Operation Hadin Kai remain engaged in counter-insurgency operations.
The Nigerian Army in April 2026 confirmed the death of a senior officer and six soldiers after an IED explosion in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State.
The incident occurred after troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled a terrorist attack on their position at Charlie 13 in Monguno.
According to a statement issued on April 14, 2026, by the Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, insurgents launched an attack on the military location during the night but were pushed back by troops after a fierce battle.
However, tragedy struck shortly after the operation.
Uba explained that the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel I.A. Mohammed, moved to assess the situation following the successful defence of the position.
“Troops of Sector 3, Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI came under an isolated terrorist attack on Charlie 13 location in Monguno.”
He added: “Regrettably, the Commanding Officer proceeded to the troops’ location to personally assess the situation but encountered another planted IED, which severely damaged his vehicle, leading to his death alongside six other soldiers.”
The army described the late officer as courageous and committed to duty, noting that he died while leading from the front.
Just days earlier, another senior military officer, Brigadier General Oseni Omoh Braimah, was among personnel killed during a terrorist assault on a military base in Benisheikh.
