At least 16 individuals are feared dead, with 20 others sustaining injuries, following a tragic incident on the Baga-Kukawa Road in Borno State’s Kukawa Local Government Area. The episode occurred on Wednesday, April 17, suspected to be caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by ISWAP terrorists.
According to credible sources in military intelligence, the casualty count reported by counter-insurgency expert and security analyst Zagazola Makama initially stood at 10, but subsequent reports suggest the figure could be as high as 16.
Responding to inquiries, Lt. Col. Ajemusu Jingina, the spokesperson for the 7 Division, declined to comment, citing the area’s jurisdiction under the Multi-National Joint Task Force, headquartered in Ndjamena, Chad Republic.
A resident of Baga, Bukar Wakil, shared insights, revealing that the IED, believed to target military vehicles, tragically detonated under a commercial vehicle, resulting in the loss of approximately 16 lives and injuring around 20 others, primarily bystanders.
Expressing concern over the resurgence of ISWAP attacks in the Lake Chad basin, security expert Abdullahi Abubakar from Maiduguri highlighted three contributing factors: the Nigerian troops’ claims of significantly weakening Boko Haram; ISWAP’s aggressive expansion into the Chad basin, engaging in battles for dominance with Boko Haram; and ISWAP’s determination to assert its presence and resilience against the Nigerian military. Abubakar emphasized that until ISWAP is fully eradicated, the region may continue to witness sporadic attacks, especially in northern Borno.
