At least 16 individuals lost their lives, with around 20 others sustaining injuries along Baga-Kukawa Road, after a commercial vehicle triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) believed to have been planted by the ISWAP terrorist group.
Zagazola Makama, a respected counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, initially reported 10 fatalities, but subsequent information from reliable sources indicated that the death toll was higher, with at least 16 people confirmed dead.
The spokesperson for the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt Col Ajemusu Jingina, declined to comment on the incident, citing the jurisdiction of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, headquartered in Ndjamena, Chad Republic.
“I will not comment on the incident, as the location falls under the jurisdiction of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, which is headquartered in Ndjamena, Chad Republic.”
Eyewitness accounts, such as that of Bukar Wakil, a resident of Baga, painted a grim picture of the aftermath.
Wakil recounted how the IED, seemingly intended to target military vehicles, tragically detonated under civilian transport, resulting in significant loss of life and injuries among passers-by.
“We heard that the IED was planted with the intent of killing troops, but the unfortunate commercial vehicle drove over it before any military vehicle did, killing about 16 people and injuring about 20, mainly passers-by.”
Abdullahi Abubakar, a security expert based in Maiduguri, expressed deep concern over the resurgence of attacks by ISWAP in the Lake Chad basin.
He highlighted three key factors contributing to this resurgence: the perceived weakening of Boko Haram by government forces, the incursion of ISWAP into the region, and the ongoing power struggle between the two extremist groups.
Abubakar emphasized the importance of decisively addressing the ISWAP threat to bring stability to the region, noting that until the group is effectively neutralized, sporadic attacks and instability are likely to persist, particularly in Northern Borno.
The situation underscores the complex and evolving nature of the security landscape in northeastern Nigeria, where multiple extremist groups vie for power and influence, posing significant challenges to the safety and well-being of civilians and security forces alike.
