The suicide attack killed 27 Nigerian soldiers, including the commander, and left several others seriously injured,” one officer stated. Another officer, describing the difficulty of the operation, noted, “It was dark, which made it difficult for the troops to have a clear view of the surroundings.
Maiduguri, Nigeria – At least 27 Nigerian soldiers lost their lives in a suicide bombing carried out by militants in northeastern Nigeria, military sources told AFP on Sunday. The attack occurred during a ground offensive targeting a stronghold of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Timbuktu Triangle, an area straddling Borno and Yobe states.
According to sources within the military, the attack took place on Friday evening around 8:30 PM GMT. A suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle concealed in thick foliage into a convoy of advancing troops. Among those killed was the unit’s commander, while several soldiers sustained critical injuries.
“The suicide attack killed 27 Nigerian soldiers, including the commander, and left several others seriously injured,” one officer stated. Another officer, describing the difficulty of the operation, noted, “It was dark, which made it difficult for the troops to have a clear view of the surroundings.” The death toll may increase as some of the injured remain in critical condition.
Nigerian military officials have yet to comment on the incident.
ISWAP, a faction that split from Boko Haram in 2016, is the dominant militant group in northeastern Nigeria. It has taken control of key areas previously held by Boko Haram, including the Timbuktu Triangle and the Sambisa forest, a former game reserve turned into a militant stronghold. The group is notorious for using tactics such as roadside mines and vehicle-borne explosives to target military forces.
The ongoing conflict in Nigeria’s northeast has lasted for over 15 years, resulting in approximately 40,000 deaths and the displacement of two million people. The violence has also spilled into neighboring countries, prompting the establishment of a regional task force to combat the militants.
In a similar attack last year, seven soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck a landmine in an ISWAP-active village.
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