At least 26 persons have been confirmed dead following an explosion caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Furunduma village in Kalabalge Local Government Area of Borno State.
The incident was said to have occurred around noon on Monday when an Isuzu pickup van conveying passengers from Rann to Gamboru-Ngala, in Ngala Local Government Area, stepped on the device along the route.
Security sources confirmed that the explosion led to the death of 16 men, four women, and six children — all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Rann Camp in Kalabalge.
Three other passengers, including the driver, were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries, and were taken to hospitals in Gamboru-Ngala and Rann for treatment.
According to the report, the victims were en route to Gamboru for trading activities when the incident occurred.
Following the explosion, teams from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, Military troops from the Forward Operating Base (FOB), and other tactical operatives were deployed to the area.
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The entire route was cordoned and searched for other explosive devices, but no further threats were discovered.
The corpses, many of which were dismembered, were evacuated to the General Hospital in Rann, where they were certified dead by medical personnel.
The latest attack is believed to have been carried out by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP elements, who have in recent weeks intensified the use of IEDs in remote communities, across Borno’s border axis.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
