Tragedy struck in Borno State on Sunday when a commercial bus traveling along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram insurgents.
The explosion killed eight passengers instantly, while eleven others sustained serious injuries, according to security sources and local officials who spoke on the incident.
The bus, which was conveying civilians from Maiduguri to Damboa, was torn apart by the force of the blast. Emergency responders, including the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and military personnel, quickly arrived at the scene to evacuate the victims.
One of the rescuers confirmed that several of the wounded were in critical condition and had been transported to nearby hospitals in Maiduguri for urgent medical attention.
The Maiduguri-Damboa Road has long been known as a volatile route due to the activities of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), who frequently target civilians and military convoys with landmines and IEDs.
Security agencies have since launched a search operation in the area to locate and neutralize any remaining threats, while also working to identify those responsible for planting the explosive.
Authorities have urged commuters to remain vigilant and cooperate with security checkpoints, as efforts continue to restore safety in the region.
This incident marks yet another grim reminder of the ongoing security challenges in northeastern Nigeria, despite claims of progress in the fight against insurgency.
