Incident Details
On Saturday, tragedy struck in Nigeria’s northeast as eleven militia fighters lost their lives in a landmine explosion near the border with Cameroon. The fighters were escorting a civilian convoy from Gamboru to Maiduguri when their vehicle hit a landmine suspected to have been planted by jihadists at Damno village.
Sequence of Events
- The militia fighters, working alongside Nigeria’s military, were on a mission to battle jihadists in the region.
- The vehicle carrying the fighters hit a landmine on the highway, resulting in the tragic incident.
- Despite efforts to save them, eleven fighters lost their lives, while two others sustained injuries.
Impact on the Region
The Gamboru to Maiduguri highway, a vital trade route spanning 140 kilometers, serves as a crucial link with neighboring Cameroon. However, the area has been plagued by jihadist attacks, leading to the closure of the highway for two years before its reopening in July 2016.
Ongoing Threats
Jihadist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to pose a threat by launching ambushes on convoys and planting landmines along the highway. The region has witnessed multiple casualties due to these attacks, highlighting the persistent danger faced by both military personnel and civilians.
Regional Concerns
The conflict in Nigeria has had far-reaching consequences, with over 40,000 lives lost and two million people displaced since 2009. The violence has not been contained within Nigeria’s borders, spilling over into neighboring countries like Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
The recent military coups in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, coupled with the withdrawal of French and US troops from the Sahel to Nigeria’s north, have raised concerns about escalating instability and violence spreading to coastal West African states.
