An explosive device has killed at least 26 travellers moving from Kala-Balge to Gamboru-Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The incident occurred on Monday when a vehicle travelling from Rann, the headquarters of Kala-Balge, to Gamboru-Ngala struck an improvised explosive device (IED).
Confirming the incident , the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, stated that injured victims are receiving treatment in hospital.
“Earlier today at about 12 p.m., an Isuzu pickup van with registration number XA265KKU travelling from Kala-Balge towards Gamboru-Ngala struck an IED near Furunduma village. The tragic incident led to the death of 26 persons, including 16 males, four females, and six children,” he said.
He added that the driver and two other victims sustained injuries and are currently responding to treatment.
However, some local sources earlier claimed that eight people had died and many others sustained critical injuries.
A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “Women and children were involved. About eight people died.”
This latest tragedy comes just 16 days after another fatal incident in which eight passengers died and 11 others sustained serious injuries when a bus travelling along the Maiduguri-Damboa road struck an explosive device.
Daso confirmed that the injured passengers from the earlier incident are still receiving medical attention.
“Today, around 11:45 a.m., we received a report of an incident where a Hummer bus with registration number Jigawa MMR144, travelling from Damboa to Maiduguri, struck an IED at Komala village in Konduga Local Government Area. The device is suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram terrorists,” he explained.