12 Killed by Landmine Blast in Borno

12 Killed by Landmine Blast in Borno

No fewer than12 loggers have been reportedly killed in Borno State near the border with Cameroon when their vehicle hit a landmine in an area, a Non-governmental Organisation disclosed.

The loggers were said to be on their way to the bush to collect firewood when the flat-bed vehicle conveying them rolled over a mine suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram terroristson the highway outside Pulka village.

According to AFP report, monotored by Vanguard, the incident occured on Monday.

One of the  reports read: “Men suspected to be Boko Haram… planted explosive… and killed 12 people while many were injured along Pulka to Gwoza route.”

According to the other report, which gave the same toll, seven other loggers were injured “out of which three are very critical and have been evacuated to Maiduguri for further medical attention”.

When contacted, the Nigerian security forces did not respond to a request for confirmation of the blast.

There has been a surge in mine explosions targeting civilian convoys recently that have been blamed on jihadists.

Boko Haram seized Gwoza in July 2014, making it the headquarters of their so-called caliphate. Although it was retaken by Nigerian troops in March 2015, the jihadists still raid nearby villages from hideouts in the mountains along the border with Cameroon.

Residents of villages in the area fled into Gwoza and nearby Pulka where they live in camps under military protection.

Troops conduct patrols in the area to deter the militants from killing or abducting residents who venture into the bush, especially women who collect acacia fruits and firewood.

Boko Haram and the rival Islamic State West Africa Province are known to target loggers, farmers and herders, accusing them of spying on them for troops and anti-jihadist militia fighting them.

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