At least, 16 people are dead and no fewer than 20 others injured in Borno state when a commercial bus riding along the Baga-Kukawa road in Kukawa local government area of the state allegedly drove over a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) thought to have been planted by ISWAP terrorists, in the region.
Sources in the state say the incident occurred om Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, with some unofficial sources claiming the number of fatalities stood at 10. More reliable counter terrorism experts on the ground, however, dispute those numbers, claiming at least 16 deaths were recorded.
A Spokesman of the seventh division of the Nigerian army, lieutenant Colonel Ajemusu Jingina, when contacted, declined to offer, on the record confirmation of the incident, saying, “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.”
Meanwhile, residents of Baga and on-site witness are giving a firsthand account of what they experienced, with one telling journalists, “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.”
Experts who have watched events unfold over the years in the north-east are raising concerns over what they perceive as the resurgence of sporadic attacks by ISWAP across the lake Chad basin. One told reporters “You should look at the current resurgence of attacks from three angles.
“One, troops have claimed degrading Boko Haram to virtual non-existence; two, ISWAP, a rival of Boko Haram, has invaded the Chad basin, not only unleashing terror but attempting to crush Boko Haram in incessant battles for supremacy; and three, ISWAP wants to show the Nigerian military that they are very much around and are very much uncrushable.
“Until troops completely crush ISWAP, the terror group will never, in my view, allow Chad basin to rest. This explains the sporadic attacks, especially in northern Borno.”
