At least seven Nigerian soldiers were killed when a mine exploded on a highway in Borno state, the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency, two vigilante officers reported on Friday.
Nigeria is grappling with various security challenges, including the long-running Islamist insurgency in the northeast, separatist violence in the southeast, rampant oil theft in the Niger Delta, and kidnapping for ransom by criminal gangs.
Shaibu Musa, a local vigilante officer assisting in combating the insurgents, said a military vehicle hit an improvised explosive device while traveling on the road between Monguno and Baga on Thursday.
The military has not yet commented on the incident.
Isa Bukar, another security official, confirmed that the explosion occurred on Thursday morning when soldiers on patrol triggered the mine, resulting in the death of seven soldiers.
