AT least two soldiers were reportedly killed and several others injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly detonated on a military vehicle conveying troops to Bargaja community in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The troops were said to be responding to a distress call following a bandit attack on the community in the early hours of Saturday when the incident occurred.
News Point Nigeria gathered that armed bandits reportedly invaded the village between 12:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., firing sporadically and forcing residents to seek military intervention.
Residents who spoke on the incident alleged that the attackers had planted an explosive device along the Isa–Bargaja road before the arrival of security personnel.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the troops were on their way to rescue villagers when their vehicle struck the explosive.
“They were on their way to rescue us when the vehicle hit the explosive. Many soldiers were affected. One of the soldiers involved in the incident later ran into our village seeking help after the explosion,” the resident said.
According to him, the injured soldier sustained severe injuries to his leg following the blast.
The resident said the incident occurred on a section of the road linking Isa and Bargaja communities and expressed concern over what he described as the growing use of explosive devices by bandits operating in the area.
“We have seen the bodies of two soldiers, but we cannot say whether there were more casualties,” he said, while calling on authorities to take urgent steps to address the deteriorating security situation.
Another resident who claimed to have visited the military camp in Isa town to condole with troops said members of the community travelled to sympathise with soldiers following the incident.
“We hired two vehicles from our community and went to Isa to condole with the military over the loss of their personnel,” he said.
The source further claimed that three soldiers, including the driver of the affected vehicle, lost their lives in the attack.
According to him, one of the victims was severely impacted by the explosion, while the remains of the deceased personnel were later evacuated to Sokoto.
Another source familiar with developments in the area alleged that the troops were caught in a coordinated ambush while responding to the distress call from residents.
The source claimed that the attackers strategically allowed an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) leading the convoy to pass before targeting a Hilux vehicle behind it with a combination of gunfire and an explosive device.
“The APC was at the front and was allowed to pass. The attackers then opened fire and detonated an explosive device targeting the Hilux behind it,” the source alleged.
He added that one of the security personnel reportedly fled into a nearby forest during the attack and that efforts were ongoing to locate and rescue him.
According to the source, residents, security personnel and the attackers engaged in exchanges throughout the night, creating widespread tension across the community and surrounding areas.
“We never slept yesterday because of the sound of gunfire. I can’t confirm the exact number of the casualties. Wait till after we gather accurate information about the incident,” the source said.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation from military authorities regarding the alleged attack and reported casualties.
Similarly, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, did not respond to calls, text messages and WhatsApp enquiries seeking comment on the incident.
Efforts to reach the Chairman of Isa Local Government Area, Sharehu Abubakar Kamarawa, were also unsuccessful, as his telephone lines were unreachable and he did not respond to text or WhatsApp messages sent before the filing of this report.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over the tactics employed by armed groups in parts of the North-West, including the alleged deployment of improvised explosive devices against security forces and civilian targets.