How Boko Haram IED Bomb Nearly Killed Nigeria Soldier

The persistent threat posed by Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria made Nigerian soldiers narrowly escape death after their vehicle detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) laid by the militant group. This scenario depicts the ongoing struggle between Nigerian security forces and Boko Haram, particularly the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction, in the fight against terrorism in the region.

Last weekend, in Kukareta, Yobe State, a military vehicle carrying Major General MLD Sara, Theatre Commander, Sector 2 Joint Task Force (JTF) North East (NE), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) of the Nigerian Army, met with a perilous fate. 

The vehicle, while on an assessment trip to the 233 Battalion on the outskirts of Kukareta, a site previously targeted by terrorists triggered an IED bomb planted by Boko Haram militants. The explosion resulted in a leg injury for the driver and significant damage to the vehicle.

This attack was not an isolated incident but a calculated ambush by the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which continues to pose a formidable threat in the region. Despite the damage and injury, Major General Sara and another army officer in the vehicle emerged unscathed, a stroke of fortune in an otherwise dire situation.

How the military responded 

The immediate aftermath saw a swift response from the Nigerian military, with a detailed investigation launched to assess the situation and understand the circumstances leading to this near-fatal encounter. 

Since the demise of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has been aggressively expanding its influence around Lake Chad, attracting hundreds of fighters from Shekau’s faction. 

This consolidation of power and the subsequent increase in militant activities underscore the complex and evolving nature of the insurgency in the region.

The incident in Kukareta serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by IED bombs and the relentless tactics employed by Boko Haram to target Nigerian soldiers and undermine the nation’s security apparatus. It also underscores the bravery and resilience of the Nigerian military in the face of such threats, as they continue their critical mission to restore peace and stability in the region.