At least 26 individuals were killed in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated on a bridge between the towns of Rann and Gamboru Ngala.
The explosion struck a commercial vehicle, resulting in the deaths of 16 men, four women, and six children.The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an offshoot of Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The victims, primarily farmers and traders, were traveling in a crowded vehicle when the bomb exploded. Three others sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals for treatment.
Security forces have since secured the area, and authorities believe the IEDs may have been intended for patrolling security forces, as militants often target damaged roads to ambush soldiers. The conflict involving ISWAP and Boko Haram has persisted since 2009, causing over 35,000 deaths and displacing more than 2 million people, with violence spreading to neighboring countries.
This latest attack underscores the enduring threat in Nigeria’s northeast.
In response, the Nigerian military appointed Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar as the new commander for operations against the insurgencies in the region.
The Nigerian government has condemned the attack and pledged to continue efforts to combat insurgency in the region.
