JUST IN: Explosive Device Kills 7 Nigerian Soldiers On Mission To Save Borno Community From Boko Haram

In a sad incident early Thursday, seven Nigerian soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit an explosive device in the Mugunu area of Maiduguri, Borno State, while responding to a Boko Haram attack.

The soldiers were part of a rapid response unit dispatched to aid a neighboring community under siege by Boko Haram militants. The distress call came in the early hours, prompting the deployment of three vehicles loaded with armed soldiers. The lead and middle vehicles passed safely, but the third vehicle encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted along the Gamboru Ngala-Maiduguri Road.

Eyewitnesses from Gamboru Ngala reported that the road has been a frequent target for such IED attacks by Boko Haram, endangering many travelers.

Disturbing visuals circulating online depict soldiers struggling to collect and identify the remains of their fallen comrades from the blast site. A military source detailed the events, stating: “They (the deceased soldiers) were called to assist a neighboring community under Boko Haram attack. Their commandant ordered the mission around 5 am on Thursday. Tragically, the EED device exploded, killing almost all aboard the third vehicle.”

Identification of the victims is ongoing, with one soldier confirmed as Luke, from Cross River State. The military is currently working to gather and identify the remains, intending to notify the families of the deceased.