At least 15 people, including 10 Nigerian soldiers and five members of a civilian militia supporting the military, were killed in a landmine explosion and subsequent ambush in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state, military sources said on Monday.
The attack occurred on Saturday along a road connecting Gamboru Ngala, near the border with Cameroon, when a military patrol encountered an explosive device believed to have been planted by Boko Haram militants.
Two soldiers told Reuters that a pickup truck carrying troops from a battalion stationed in Gamboru struck the landmine, killing eight soldiers instantly.
Armed attackers then opened fire on a second vehicle in the convoy, killing two additional soldiers and five members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), a local militia that supports Nigerian security forces in operations against insurgent groups.
Six other soldiers sustained injuries and were transported to Maimalari Military Hospital in Maiduguri for treatment, according to the sources.
The soldiers spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss military operations publicly.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the reported death toll. Nigerian military spokesperson Captain Mohammed Goni declined requests for comment.
Borno state remains the epicentre of a prolonged insurgency involving Boko Haram and its splinter faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Despite years of military offensives, both groups continue to carry out deadly attacks against security forces and civilians, frequently using roadside explosives, coordinated ambushes and assaults on military installations.
The latest incident follows another deadly attack last week, when suspected Boko Haram fighters stormed a military base in Borno, killing at least 10 soldiers and wounding 20 others.
The repeated attacks underscore the persistent security challenges facing Nigeria’s armed forces as they attempt to contain militant activity across the country’s northeast and along its international borders.
