A suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated on Friday along the Katarko-Goniri Road in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, killing at least four persons and injuring 21 others, according to local reports.
The victims were traveling to the popular Buniyadi market when their vehicle triggered the explosive device in Gotala community, an area located at the fringes of the Sambisa forest, a known stronghold of Boko Haram insurgents who have operated in the region for over a decade.
Bodies of the deceased have reportedly been taken home for burial, while survivors are receiving medical treatment at a specialist hospital and Yobe State University Teaching Hospital in Damaturu.
Previous Incidents in the Area
Eyewitnesses revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Just a day earlier, vigilantes and military vehicles had also triggered buried IEDs along the same route, resulting in multiple casualties. The military has yet to issue an official statement regarding these incidents.
Relatives of the victims have urgently appealed to the Yobe State Government to reconstruct the dilapidated road, warning that both local communities and the military formation at Goniri remain at high risk from insurgent activities if action is not taken.
The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria's northeastern region, where Boko Haram and its splinter groups continue to pose significant threats to civilian populations despite government efforts to contain the insurgency.
Stay updated on this developing story and more by following BenriNews on our social media platforms.
