A CAPTAIN and two other soldiers have reportedly lost their lives following an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion at Maciyan-Kyada village in Babanna Ward of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
News Point Nigeria reports that two other soldiers also sustained severe injuries in the explosion, according to a security source who confirmed the incident.
The source disclosed that troops had departed Babanna town at about 10am on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, for a routine patrol in the area when one of the military patrol vehicles stepped on an IED suspected to have been planted on the road by terrorists.
“The IED explosion involved soldiers. They were on a routine patrol when their patrol van stepped on the IED buried on the road by the terrorists. Three soldiers lost their lives including a captain and two others sustained injuries. The village where the incident happened is under Babanna ward,” the source said.
A resident of the area, who also confirmed the incident to our correspondent, identified one of the deceased soldiers as Yusuf Kabir.
The resident said the attack had further heightened tension among communities in the area, with residents expressing concern over the worsening security situation.
The incident is the latest in a series of security challenges affecting parts of Niger State, where suspected terrorists have continued to target communities and security personnel.
Military authorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the explosion as of the time of filing this report.
