A military truck hit a landmine in Borno State on Wednesday, killing at least nine soldiers, two security sources told AFP.
The incident happened on Monday near the town of Malam Fatori on the border with Niger which houses a garrison of soldiers fighting insurgent groups.
“We lost nine soldiers in the incident,” said the first security source. The military convoy was transporting food from regional capital Maiduguri, 200 kilometres (130 miles) away when the lead vehicle hit the explosive device”, the second source said.
“The mine was definitely planted by ISWAP terrorists who operate in the area and against whom soldiers are fighting,” the second source also said.
News of the incident came in late due to lack of communication network as the militants had destroyed telecom infrastructure in the region.
The insurgents have made repeated deadly attempts to overrun the Malam Fatori base. The group focuses on military targets, raiding bases, laying ambush to troops and planting mines on the roads, although they have in recent times been attacking and abducting civilians.
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