BREAKING: Suicide bomber strikes military convoy in Borno, five soldiers killed

A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a military convoy in the notorious Timbuktu Triangle of Borno State on Tuesday, killing five soldiers and injuring several others, security sources confirmed to Journalists.

Two senior officers, a major and a lieutenant, were reportedly among those affected. The attack targeted troops returning from a successful clearance operation against insurgents in the area.

One officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the assault caused significant damage to military equipment, including armoured and logistics vehicles deployed for the ongoing operations.

“Every operation comes with setbacks, but we overcame this. Unfortunately, we lost five soldiers in the incident. Manga (the Commander) is hale and hearty, and the operation continues,” he added.

The bodies of the fallen soldiers have been flown to Maiduguri, while the injured have been evacuated for medical treatment.

The Timbuktu Triangle has remained a high-risk insurgent enclave, infamous for ambushes and previous attacks, including the capture and execution of Brigadier General Musa Uba.

The latest strike came a day after the Joint Task Force North-East (Operation Hadin Kai) announced significant successes in the area. On Monday, the task force disclosed that multiple terrorist camps had been cleared and several drone attacks repelled during the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity.

In a statement, the operation’s spokesman, Lt-Col Sani Uba, highlighted that the troops had recovered a range of military and logistical materials from insurgents, including Baofeng radios, ammunition, firearms, POL dumps, medical supplies, and even Boko Haram/ISWAP flags.

He noted that, despite drone attacks by the terrorists, troops maintained momentum, repelled multiple offensives, and forced the insurgents to withdraw. Troop morale remains high, and the security situation, though unpredictable, is under constant monitoring.

“The Military High Command affirms that operations will continue. Our forces remain resolute in eliminating terrorist threats, protecting civilians, and restoring lasting peace and stability in the North East,” Lt-Col Uba said.