Bomb Explosion Kills 8, Injures Several Travellers In Borno

Eight travellers were on Saturday killed by a bomb explosion along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road in Borno State.

The explosion from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was reportedly planted by Boko Haram terrorists on the dilapidated and deserted road which passes through the Sambisa Forest.

According to several sources, the explosion occurred while cars on a scheduled military-escorted convoy were transporting passengers from Damboa to Maiduguri on Saturday, leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries.

The Maiduguri-Damboa Road links Maiduguri to several local government areas in Southern Borno and has been a hotspot for Boko Haram terrorists for over a decade.

The road was closed to vehicles and commuters until the administration of Governor Babagana Zulum opened it for passengers to travel to Damboa, Chibok and other local government areas with the help of military convoy serving as security cover for the commuters.

The convoy traverses the road two times a week after military scanning for IEDs and this has been ongoing for over two years before this incident.

Sources said the injured persons whose numbers were yet to be ascertained have been conveyed to a hospital in Maiduguri for prompt medical attention.

As of Sunday morning, no reaction has been made by either the military or the police regarding the incident.