At least five soldiers reportedly died on Monday after their vehicle hit a land mine suspected to have been planted by the Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) jihadists in Borno State.
A counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the troops were on a routine patrol in Laayi village near the town of Damasak when they drove over the mine.
The town of Damasak is a few kilometres away from Nigeria’s border with Niger Republic.
Makama said: “The vehicle set off an improvised explosive device suspected to have been planted by the Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) group.
“The explosion killed all five troops on board.”
He added that the jihadists attacked the village the previous night and kidnapped four residents, including the local chief.
They also planted the explosives while retreating.
