Nine soldiers feared dead as bomb blasts rock Maiduguri–Gubio road
At least nine soldiers are feared dead following the detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along the Maiduguri–Gubio highway in Borno State, in what security sources have described as a calculated attack by Boko Haram insurgents.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening along the 85-kilometre Maiduguri–Gubio road, a strategic route used by both military personnel and civilians in northern Borno State. The affected troops were reportedly travelling from Maiduguri through Gubio town en route to the Sasawa Forest in neighbouring Yobe State, where they were scheduled to carry out a military operation.
Military and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) sources in Maiduguri told News Point Nigeria on Monday that preliminary findings suggest the explosive devices were planted overnight by insurgents with the aim of inflicting casualties on troops.
“Investigations so far indicate that the explosives were planted along the road during the night by Boko Haram terrorists to cause havoc among the soldiers,” a security source said.
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According to the sources, the soldiers were members of the 145 Battalion, Damasak, under the 5 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, based at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri. The troops reportedly departed Maiduguri on Saturday and made a stop at a military outpost near Gubio town before planning to continue their journey the following day.
“While travelling from Maiduguri on Saturday, the soldiers stopped at a military camp along the route and intended to proceed with their mission on Sunday,” a senior military source explained.
The explosions reportedly occurred as the convoy resumed movement on Sunday evening, triggering multiple blasts along the highway. In addition to the soldiers feared killed, several others were said to have sustained injuries and were taken to medical facilities for treatment.
Another military source clarified that the incident did not involve a direct firefight with insurgents.
“This was not an ambush involving gunfire or a face-to-face confrontation. The casualties resulted from IEDs planted along the road by Boko Haram insurgents,” the source said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had not issued an official statement confirming the number of casualties or providing further details on the attack.
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The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, who have increasingly relied on roadside bombs and hit-and-run tactics to target military movements across Borno State. In November last year, suspected ISWAP fighters were reported to have attacked a military convoy in the same general area, resulting in casualties among soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force supporting counter-terrorism operations.
Security operations along the Maiduguri–Gubio axis have since been reinforced, with efforts ongoing to detect and neutralise explosive devices planted along major routes used by both troops and civilians.
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