At least eight Nigerian soldiers have been killed after their convoy struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) allegedly planted by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.
The soldiers, who were attached to the 24 Task Force Brigade in Dikwa, were returning to their base from Maiduguri on Thursday when the attack occurred.
A military source said the troops were escorting food supplies and other logistics materials to Dikwa when the lead vehicle, a gun truck, ran over the explosive device along the route.
“All the soldiers in that vehicle died on the spot. About eight of them,” the source said.
The identities and ranks of the soldiers killed had not been officially released at the time of filing this report.
The attack adds to a series of recent incidents involving the use of explosives and ambushes against military personnel operating in Borno’s conflict zones. Insurgents have increasingly targeted supply routes used by troops moving between Maiduguri, Dikwa, Bama and other parts of the state.
In June, three soldiers were killed and several others injured after a military vehicle hit an IED along the Marte-Dikwa road, a key route for military operations.
In April 2025, an insurgent attack on a military convoy in the Dikwa area left at least four soldiers dead, while two military trucks were destroyed.
Security observers say ISWAP fighters have relied more on roadside explosives and surprise attacks rather than direct engagements with troops, allowing them to disrupt military movements and supply operations.
