By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
A landmine explosion claimed the lives of seven Nigerian soldiers in northeastern Nigeria on Thursday.
The soldiers were traveling to Kukawa when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Bawarti village. Anti-jihadist militia leaders Babakura Kolo and Ibrahim Liman, who reported the incident, believe the attack was carried out by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a dominant jihadist faction in the Lake Chad area.
This tragic incident is part of a broader conflict in Nigeria’s northeast, where insurgent activities have persisted for over a decade. Despite a recent decrease in large-scale violence, ISWAP and its rival, Boko Haram, continue to pose significant threats, often ambushing military convoys and targeting civilians. The ongoing insurgency has resulted in approximately 40,000 deaths and displaced around two million people, severely impacting the region’s stability and security. The Nigerian military remains engaged in efforts to counter these extremist groups, but the challenges are formidable, as highlighted by this latest attack.
