Six soldiers have been killed by suspected Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) said to have been planted by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in two separate incidents in Borno State.

ISWAP had claimed in its media broadcast that it killed 15 soldiers of the Nigerian Army and wounded  three others when its roadside bombs detonated in the Borno State area. 

But Zagazola Makama, Security Analyst, Counter Insurgency Expert, Lake Chad/West Africa confirmed that the “total numbers of soldiers killed by IEDs in both attacks are six as against 15 figures reported by ISWAP.”

Giving insight into the IED deaths, Makama said that “the  troops of 68 Battalion in FOB Mallam-Fatori while on fighting patrol to villages surrounding Mallam Fatori encountered terrorists about 4km ahead of the town.

“Troops engaged the terrorists in a heavy gun battle and overwhelmed them which forced them to retreat. 

“While chasing the terrorists in their withdrawal route, the troops encountered an IED planted by the terrorists which  exploded and killed 1 soldier while ten others were wounded. 

“Meanwhile, in another incident, troops of 145 Battalion on MOAC while conducting patrol around San-San village encountered roadside IED. San-San village is located about a Kms south of Damasak Town in Mobbar LGA.

“During the incident, the explosion engulfed the MOAC on fire resulting in the death of 5x soldiers.”