The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has taken responsibility for a deadly improvised explosive device (IED) attack near Rann, located in the Kala-Balge Local Government Area of Borno State. According to local residents and security officials, the explosion occurred around 11 a.m. on Friday along the Furunduma axis, initially resulting in 17 deaths. Among the victims were four women, six children, and seven other passengers. By Monday, additional bodies were discovered in the surrounding bush, raising the confirmed death toll to 26. A security source, speaking anonymously, revealed that some of the victims had been burned beyond recognition.
“As of the last count, 26 people have died from the blast. This includes the four women, six children, and now 16 others,” the source said.
On Tuesday, ISWAP publicly claimed responsibility for the attack through a statement on Telegram, corroborating the death toll of 26, as reported by ReutersIn a separate incident, two soldiers lost their lives after reportedly stepping on a landmine suspected to have been planted by insurgents along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road.
According to local sources and security personnel, the explosion happened near the abandoned village of Nyeliri in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
“The deceased soldiers were part of a landmine detection team escorting commuters when they accidentally stepped on roadside IEDs, which exploded and killed them instantly,” one of the sources stated.
The District Head of Damboa, Alhaji Lawan Maina, confirmed the incident, stating, "Two soldiers were killed."
Attempts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Command, ASP Kenneth Daso, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls or text messages from this reporter.