At least 16 people have died and 20 others have been injured in a bomb blast in Borno State, News About Nigeria reports.
The incident was said to have occurred on Wednesday, April 17, when a commercial vehicle plying the Baga-Kukawa Road in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State drove over an improvised explosive device (IED).
The device is suspected to have been planted by ISWAP terrorist group targeting military troops.
A resident of Baga, Bukar Wakil, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that the explosive, which was aimed at the military, killed the civilians when the unfortunate commercial vehicle drove over it before any military vehicle did.
“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 passersby,” he stated.
Speaking also, a Maiduguri-based security expert, Abdullahi Abubakar, who raised concern over the resurgence of sporadic attacks by ISWAP across the Lake Chad basin, maintained that until the Nigerian troops completely crush ISWAP, the terrorist group will not allow Chad Basin to rest, adding that it explains the sporadic attacks, especially in Northern Borno.
He said that ISWAP, a rival of Boko Haram, has invaded the Chad basin, not only unleashing terror but also attempting to crush Boko Haram in incessant battles for supremacy.
Abubakar said that the terrorist group wants to show the Nigerian military that they are very much around and are very much uncrushable.
