By Peter Omopo
At least 26 people have been confirmed dead following a bomb explosion on Monday in Borno State, after a vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) while traveling between Kala-Balge and Gamboru-Ngala local government areas.
The tragic incident occurred near Furunduma village when an Isuzu pickup van, en route from Rann (headquarters of Kala-Balge LGA) to Gamboru-Ngala, hit an IED suspected to have been planted by insurgents.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said the explosion occurred at about 12:00 p.m. He revealed that 26 passengers died in the blast — including 16 men, four women, and six children.
“The tragic incident led to the death of 26 persons. The driver and two other victims sustained injuries and have been taken to a hospital where they are responding to treatment,” Daso stated.
However, conflicting reports from local sources suggest a lower death toll. One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed only eight people were killed, though many others were critically injured. “Women and children were involved,” the source said.
Monday’s explosion marks the second deadly IED attack in Borno within two weeks. Just 16 days earlier, a similar blast killed eight people and injured 11 others when a commercial bus traveling along the Maiduguri–Damboa road struck an explosive device.
ASP Daso also confirmed that the earlier explosion involved a Hummer bus with Jigawa registration number MMR144, which hit an IED at Komala village in Konduga LGA. The device was believed to have been planted by Boko Haram terrorists.
Borno State continues to experience security challenges due to the prolonged insurgency in the region, with IED attacks posing a persistent threat to civilian lives.
