Three Nigerian soldiers were reportedly killed, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries after their patrol vehicle allegedly struck an improvised explosive device in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident was said to have occurred on Saturday morning near Babanna, between Machiyan Gyada and Baturen Daji in the Dekara axis, as the troops were returning from a routine security patrol.
The development was disclosed by conflict and security journalist Bakatsine in a post shared on X on Sunday.
According to the report, the military patrol vehicle ran over a suspected roadside bomb, triggering a powerful explosion that reportedly killed three soldiers on the spot and left several others injured.
“Yesterday morning, three Nigerian soldiers were reportedly killed and several others injured after their patrol vehicle allegedly struck an improvised explosive device (IED) near Babanna in Borgu LGA of Niger State.
“According to local sources, the explosion occurred between Machiyan Gyada and Baturen Daji in the Dekara axis as the troops were returning from a security patrol,” Bakatsine wrote.
The identities of the deceased soldiers had yet to be disclosed as of the time of filing this report.
Similarly, the number of injured personnel and the severity of their injuries could not be independently verified.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from military authorities were unsuccessful.
Neither the Nigerian Armed Forces nor the Niger State Government had issued a statement on the reported incident as of Sunday.
The reported attack comes amid growing concerns over the increasing deployment of improvised explosive devices by armed groups targeting security personnel in parts of northern Nigeria.
The latest incident follows three separate IED explosions recorded in Sokoto State in recent weeks, highlighting the evolving tactics of armed groups and the persistent security challenges confronting military operations in the region.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that the rising use of roadside bombs poses a significant threat to troops engaged in counter-insurgency and anti-banditry operations across the North.
