IED Explosion In Borno Kills Nine Soldiers, Others Injured.

At least nine Nigerian soldiers have been confirmed dead after an explosion triggered by improvised explosive devices, IEDs, along the Gubio axis of Borno State, according to security sources.

A senior military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday, said early findings showed that the explosive devices were planted by Boko Haram insurgents.

The source explained that the affected troops were travelling from Maiduguri when the incident took place over the weekend.

“While coming from Maiduguri on Saturday, the soldiers stopped at a camp along the route and were to continue their journey on Sunday,” the source said.

According to the source, several soldiers sustained severe injuries in the explosion, with the death toll rising after the initial blast.

“Eight of the wounded died on Sunday, while one more soldier died this morning,” the source disclosed, confirming that the total number of fatalities has risen to nine.

He clarified that the incident was not an ambush by gunmen but the result of explosive devices deliberately laid along the route.

“It was not an ambush. The incident happened around Gubio and was caused by explosive devices planted on the road,” the source added.

The soldiers involved were reported to be from the 145 Battalion, Damasak, under the 5 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri. The explosion was said to have occurred towards the evening hours on Sunday.

Images and video footage from the scene showed the severe aftermath of the blast, with several soldiers lying lifeless and others suffering serious injuries consistent with a powerful explosion.

Some of the victims were seen with dismembered body parts, indicating the force of the detonation.

The attack is the most recent in a series of deadly assaults on military personnel in Nigeria’s North-East, where Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have continued to target troops using roadside bombs and coordinated strikes.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had not issued an official statement on the incident.

In November 2025, suspected ISWAP militants were reported to have ambushed a military convoy in the area, killing several soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force.

During that attack, insurgents also abducted a serving brigade commander and other personnel.