By Olaitan Ibrahim
The Islamic State West Africa Province has claimed responsibility for Monday’s deadly bombing of a pickup van in Borno State, which killed 26 travellers.
According to a report by Reuters, the terrorist group made the claim in a statement posted on its Telegram channel on Tuesday.
It had earlier reported that an Improvised Explosive Device, suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram insurgents, detonated under a moving vehicle traveling from Kala-Balge to Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area.
The tragic incident occurred around 12:00 p.m. on Monday when the vehicle, an Isuzu pickup van, ran over the IED near Furunduma village.
Confirming the incident to The PUNCH, Borno State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, said the explosion killed 26 people—including 16 men, four women, and six children.
“Earlier today at about 12:00 p.m., an Isuzu pickup van with registration number XA265KKU en route from Kala-Balge to Gamboru Ngala stepped on an IED around Furunduma village.
The tragic incident led to the death of 26 persons—16 males, four females, and six children,” Daso said.
He added that the driver and two other victims sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
The latest bombing comes just 16 days after a similar attack on the Maiduguri–Damboa Road claimed eight lives and left 11 others severely injured when a passenger bus struck an IED.
Commenting on the earlier incident, the police spokesperson said, “Today, around 11:45 a.m., we received a report of an incident where a Hummer bus with registration number Jigawa MMR144 from Damboa to Maiduguri stepped on an IED at Komala village in Konduga Local Government Area. The IED was suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram terrorists.”
Security forces have since intensified patrols in the affected areas as investigations continue.