16 feared dead and 20 injured as ISWAP strike again

A suspected ISWAP terrorist group’s Improvised Explosive Device (IED) is believed to have caused the death of at least 16 people and injured 20 others. 

The incident occurred when a commercial vehicle traveling on the Baga-Kukawa Road in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State ran over the IED.

The incident, which took place on Wednesday, April 17, was reported to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, by reliable military intelligence sources. Although Makama initially reported 10 casualties, Multiple sources confirmed the death toll to be no less than 16. Lt Col Ajemusu Jingina, the 7 division spokesman, declined to comment on the incident, stating that the location falls under the jurisdiction of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, headquartered in Ndjamena, Chad Republic.

Bukar Wakil, a resident of Baga, shared with BlogPerezy that the IED was allegedly planted with the intention of killing troops. However, a commercial vehicle unfortunately triggered it before any military vehicle did, resulting in about 16 deaths and approximately 20 injuries, primarily among passers-by.

Abdullahi Abubakar, a security expert based in Maiduguri, expressed concern over the resurgence of sporadic attacks by ISWAP across the Lake Chad basin. He suggested examining the current resurgence of attacks from three perspectives: firstly, the troops’ claim of reducing Boko Haram to almost non-existence; secondly, ISWAP’s invasion of the Chad basin, where they are not only spreading terror but also attempting to defeat Boko Haram in ongoing battles for dominance; and thirdly, ISWAP’s intention to demonstrate to the Nigerian military that they are still present and indestructible.

Abubakar concluded by stating that until the troops completely eliminate ISWAP, the terrorist group will continue to disrupt peace in the Chad Basin. This, he believes, explains the sporadic attacks, particularly in Northern Borno.