A roadside bomb blast in Nigeria’s restive northeast has killed at least 26 people, including men, women, and children, in Borno State, near the border with Cameroon. The explosion occurred on Monday when a truck hit an improvised explosive device (IED), leaving 26 dead and three others severely injured. The victims included 16 men, four women, and six children. Local residents and military sources confirmed the attack, though no immediate comment was provided by the police in Borno State.
The region, plagued for decades by violent insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP), has experienced an increase in violent incidents in recent days. The IED was detonated as a vehicle traveling between the towns of Rann and Gamboru Ngala hit the explosive. The International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), which provides security for foreign NGOs in northeast Nigeria, confirmed the attack in an internal memo.
Akram Saad, a local resident of Rann, participated in the funeral for the victims. He described the scene as tragic, with many of the bodies being burned beyond recognition. The blast has led to widespread grief in the region, and several individuals, including Abba Amma Muhammad, whose mother perished in the attack, have blamed Boko Haram for the bombing, though no group has officially claimed responsibility.
Boko Haram, whose insurgency has destabilized northeast Nigeria for over 15 years, has been responsible for more than 40,000 deaths. The Nigerian government has repeatedly stated that the group has been largely defeated, but the ongoing violence suggests that the insurgents continue to hold sway in some parts of the region. ISWAP, which operates in the northern parts of Borno, has been involved in ambushes on convoys and has planted landmines along key highways.
In the days leading up to the bombing, the region experienced a rise in violence. Boko Haram militants killed at least 10 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Adamawa State, and in Borno’s Gwoza district, the group killed 14 farmers. These attacks have exacerbated fears about the ongoing insecurity in the northeast.
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has raised concerns about the persistence of insurgent activity in the region, particularly in areas such as the Lake Chad islands, Sambisa Forest, and the Mandara Mountains, which lie along the border with Cameroon. According to Zulum, military setbacks have allowed Boko Haram and ISWAP to strengthen their positions in these strategic areas. The governor’s statements reflect the growing challenges faced by the Nigerian military and security forces in their efforts to contain the insurgency.
The recent wave of attacks has further highlighted the volatility in northeastern Nigeria, a region already suffering from the devastating effects of the ongoing conflict. The continued insurgent activity has not only led to significant loss of life but also displaced thousands of people, creating a humanitarian crisis that has been exacerbated by the insecurity and lack of basic services. Despite government assertions of progress in combating Boko Haram and ISWAP, the recent escalation of violence paints a stark picture of the challenges that remain in achieving lasting peace in the region.
