Eight Nigerian soldiers have reportedly been killed after a military patrol vehicle struck a landmine suspected to have been planted by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Borno State, near the border with Cameroon.
The incident occurred on Saturday, October 17, 2026, in Kinuba village, about 25 kilometres from Gamboru, as troops were supporting operations to clear thick vegetation along a major highway frequently used by jihadists to launch attacks.
According to reports, the soldiers were travelling in a patrol vehicle when it ran over the explosive device, triggering a blast that killed all eight personnel on board.
A military officer in the region confirmed the death toll, while Ibrahim Liman, a member of an anti-jihadist militia supporting the military, also reported that eight soldiers died in the explosion.
Liman said the explosive had been planted on the dusty road and detonated remotely using a detonating cord. He added that a militia member supervising the vegetation-clearing operation sustained shrapnel injuries.
The attack occurred on the same day Nigerian Army Chief, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, visited Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, following an earlier assault on a military base that reportedly killed 15 soldiers and five members of an anti-jihadist militia.
ISWAP, an extremist group affiliated with the Islamic State organisation, remains active in the region and has repeatedly targeted security personnel and civilians. Its fighters, alongside members of the rival Boko Haram faction, have increasingly used roadside explosives and landmines to attack military convoys and other targets.
The use of dense vegetation along highways has also enabled militants to conceal explosives and launch ambushes against troops and motorists.
The prolonged insurgency in northeastern Nigeria has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions from their homes. The violence has also spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting regional military cooperation aimed at combating the armed groups.
The latest incident underscores the continuing security challenges facing Nigerian troops in Borno State, where military operations against insurgent groups remain ongoing.
