A suicide bombing in northeastern Nigeria has left at least 27 soldiers dead, including a unit commander, and several others critically injured, military sources revealed on Sunday.
The attack occurred during an offensive targeting Islamic State-affiliated militants in a volatile area between Borno and Yobe states.
On Friday night, a suicide bomber concealed in thick foliage rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of Nigerian troops advancing into the Timbuktu Triangle, a notorious stronghold of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The attack, which took place around 2030 GMT, marked one of the deadliest incidents against military forces in recent years.
“The suicide attack killed 27 soldiers, including the commander, and left several others seriously injured,” one military officer disclosed, noting the challenging visibility at night contributed to the devastating outcome.
Another officer confirmed that the death toll could increase as many of the injured were in critical condition.
Both sources requested anonymity as they were not authorised to comment publicly on the incident. The Nigerian military has yet to release an official statement.
ISWAP emerged in 2016 after splitting from Boko Haram, overtaking its rival as the dominant group in the region.
The group has since established control over key territories, including the Timbuktu Triangle and the Sambisa Forest. Known for its brutal tactics, ISWAP frequently employs suicide bombers and roadside explosives to target security forces.
In July 2024, seven soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck a landmine planted by ISWAP operatives in the same area.
The insurgency, now in its 15th year, has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced around two million people in Nigeria’s northeast.
The violence has also destabilised neighbouring countries, including Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, prompting the establishment of a regional military coalition to combat the militants.
