The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for a deadly bomb attack that killed 26 people in Borno State on Monday.
The explosion happened when a pickup van ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near Furunduma village while traveling from Kala-Balge to Gamboru Ngala.
Borno State police spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed the attack.
Daso said, “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 passengers were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.
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Terrorist group ISWAP claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement shared on its Telegram channel, according to Reuters.
This is not the first time such an attack has happened in Borno. Just 16 days earlier, another IED explosion on the Maiduguri–Damboa Road killed eight people and injured 11 others. That bomb also exploded under a passenger bus.
ASP Daso had also confirmed that attack, saying, “We received a report of an incident where a Hummer bus 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.”