A suicide bomber on Tuesday drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a military convoy operating in the volatile Timbuktu Triangle area of Borno State, killing five soldiers and injuring several others, security sources have confirmed.
Among those affected in the attack were two senior officers—a major and a lieutenant—according to sources who spoke to journalists.
The convoy was reportedly returning from a successful clearance operation against insurgents in the area when it was ambushed.
A senior military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the explosion caused extensive damage to military assets, including armoured vehicles and logistics equipment deployed for the ongoing operation.
“Every operation comes with challenges, but we have remained resolute. Sadly, we lost five soldiers in this incident.
The Commander, Manga, is hale and hearty, and the operation is continuing,” the officer said.
The remains of the fallen soldiers have been airlifted to Maiduguri, while those injured in the attack have been evacuated to medical facilities for treatment.
The Timbuktu Triangle has long been identified as a high-risk insurgent stronghold, notorious for ambushes and deadly attacks. The area was previously the site of the capture and execution of Brigadier General Musa Uba.
The latest attack occurred barely a day after the Joint Task Force North-East, under Operation Hadin Kai, announced major operational gains in the region. On Monday, the task force revealed that several terrorist camps had been dismantled and multiple drone attacks successfully repelled as part of the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity.
In a statement, the spokesman of the operation, Lt-Col Sani Uba, said troops recovered various military and logistical items from insurgents, including Baofeng radios, ammunition, firearms, POL dumps, medical supplies, as well as Boko Haram and ISWAP flags.
He noted that despite persistent drone attacks by terrorists, troops sustained their momentum, repelled multiple offensives, and forced insurgents to retreat.
Lt-Col Uba assured that troop morale remains high, adding that although the security environment remains unpredictable, the situation is being closely monitored.
“The Military High Command has reaffirmed that operations will continue without pause. Our troops remain determined to eliminate terrorist threats, protect civilians, and restore enduring peace and stability in the North-East,” he stated.
