The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for Monday’s deadly bombing of a pickup van in Borno State, which killed 26 travellers.
According to a report by Reuters, ISWAP made the claim in a statement posted on its Telegram channel on Tuesday.
It was gathered that an improvised explosive device, suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram insurgents, detonated under a moving vehicle travelling from Kala-Balge to Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area.
The bombing occurred around 12:00 p.m. on Monday when the vehicle, an Isuzu pickup van, ran over the IED near Furunduma village.
Confirming the incident, Borno State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, said the explosion killed 26 people—including 16 men, four women, and six children.
“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 unfortunate occurrence resulted in the deaths of 26 people—16 men, four women, and six children,” Daso stated.
He added that the driver and two other victims were injured and brought to the hospital, where they are presently being treated.
The latest blast comes just 16 days after a passenger bus collided with an IED on the Maiduguri-Damboa Road, killing eight people and seriously injuring 11 more.
Speaking on the incident, the police spokesperson said, “Today, around 11:45 a.m., we received a report of an incident where a Hummer bus with registration number Jigawa MMR144 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.”
The police and other security agencies have since intensified patrols in the affected areas as investigations continue.
