Improvised Explosive Device (IED) suspected to be planted by Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (BH/ISWAP) terrorists on Saturday killed eight passengers along notorious Maiduguri-Damboa highway, in Borno State.
The deadly explosion comes amid rising insecurity perpetuated by Boko Haram and ISWAP who have recently intensified attacks and operations across the Lake Chad region.
Despite a heavy security presence equipped with an anti bomb squad unit, terrorists continue to plant IEDs and launch ambushes on this corridor. Civilian travel on the Damboa-Maiduguri road is restricted to two days per week, requiring heavily armed escorts due to repeated attacks.
A security source, who witnessed the incident told Daily Trust that it happened around 12 noon at Gidanka Kaji, a distance of 30km from Damboa town.
“The hummer bus drove on the landmine around Gidan Kaji and exploded. Eight corpses, including that of the driver, were recovered.
“Other passengers who sustained various degrees of injuries were transported to Maiduguri for medical attention. The vehicle was damaged beyond repair,” he said.
He said the incident happened shortly after the routine road scanning and clearance by the military that escorts the convoy of passengers plying the highway.
“That is how we always loose our men who clear the highway every day for passengers to ply the road safely. Even last week, we lost one of our soldiers on landmines clearance mission along Gwoza road,” he said.
Confirming the incident, the District Head of Damboa, Lawan Maina, said all those who sustained injuries have been evacuated and admitted at the State Specialists Hospital, Maiduguri.
“It is very saddened to inform you about the explosion that took place along Damboa-Maiduguri road this morning.”
“A driver of a hummer bus and seven passengers died at the spot, while many others sustained various degrees of injury.
“I want to appeal to the federal government and the security agencies to redouble their efforts in complementing Borno State Government’s support and cooperation to defeat Boko Haram terrorists in the North East sub-region”. Maina stated.
The Maiduguri -Damboa road is one of the notorious highways that transverse the Sambisa Forest area, serving as a link between many Local Government Areas of Southern Borno.
On March 12, a Nigerian police patrol team drove on an IED along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road, a major road in the region, damaging the vehicle while several officers sustained injuries. In the same region, on March 21, an IED detonated beneath a commercial vehicle, resulting in the deaths of four passengers.
The Damboa-Maiduguri highway was reopened by the administration of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum with the help of troops that serve as security cover for commuters from Boko Haram that are terrorising people on the highway.
Last Tuesday, Zulum had during an expanded Security meeting expressed concern over the attacks and dislodgement of military formations across the state, noting that the military were “losing ground”.
Boko Haram terrorists have dislodged military formations in Wulgo, Sabon Gari, Wajirko, Izge among other places in the state.
Meanwhile, Zulum and his entourage were at the State Specialist Hospital where he ordered free treatment for the injured ones.
Written with reports from Daily Trust
