Malik Yahya/
At least nine Nigerian soldiers have been killed following an improvised explosive device, IED, attack on a military convoy in Borno State, underscoring the persistent threat posed by jihadist groups in the country’s north-east.
The attack occurred on Sunday evening as troops of the 145 Battalion were travelling from Maiduguri towards Damasak, near the border with Niger.
The IED detonated under a mine resistant armoured vehicle (MRAP) causing extensive damage and killing several soldiers instantly, according to military sources.
A security source said Boko Haram militants were responsible for planting the explosive device.
The source added that one of the injured soldiers later died from his wounds on Monday morning, bringing the death toll to nine.
However, other reports attributed the attack to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and put the casualty figure at eight soldiers killed and at least five wounded.
Graphic footage circulating online showed a large crater at the scene of the blast and soldiers with visible injuries, though the Nigerian Army has not officially commented on the video.
The military has also not issued a formal statement confirming the exact number of casualties or the group responsible.
The incident comes despite recent claims by the army of successful operations against insurgents in parts of Borno State, including the disruption of supply routes and the killing of several fighters.
Analysts say insurgent groups have increasingly relied on roadside bombs to target military patrols and logistics convoys, particularly along key routes linking Maiduguri to border communities.
Borno State has remained the epicentre of Nigeria’s long running insurgency, which began in 2009 and has since spread across the Lake Chad region.
Although the intensity of large scale attacks has reduced in recent years, Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to carry out deadly ambushes, IED attacks and raids on both military targets and civilian communities.
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