At least nine Nigerian soldiers have been confirmed dead following a deadly explosion caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs near Gubio in Borno State, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Details of the incident were disclosed by a senior military source during an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters on Monday morning. The source confirmed that investigations indicated the explosives were planted by Boko Haram insurgents.
According to the military source, the soldiers were travelling from Maiduguri when the attack occurred. He explained that the troops had departed Maiduguri on Saturday and made a stop at a camp along the route, with plans to continue their journey on Sunday.
The source said several soldiers sustained critical injuries in the blast, noting that the death toll increased after the initial explosion. “Eight of those injured died yesterday (Sunday), while one more succumbed to injuries this morning,” the source revealed.
Emphasising the nature of the incident, the military official clarified that the attack was not a gunmen ambush but an explosion triggered by buried explosive devices. “The incident occurred in Gubio; it was not an ambush. It was caused by planted explosives,” the source said.
He further confirmed that the casualties were significant, adding that many of the surviving soldiers suffered severe injuries. “Nine fatalities have been confirmed so far,” he stated.
Providing additional details, the source said the affected personnel were members of the 145 Task Force Battalion, Damasak, under the 5 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, Borno State. He added that the explosion occurred on Sunday evening.
Video footage and photographs obtained by SaharaReporters showed the aftermath of the blast, with several Nigerian soldiers lying lifeless at the scene. The disturbing images revealed that many of the victims had dismembered body parts, suggesting the use of high-powered explosive devices.
Some of the bodies bore injuries consistent with severe bomb blasts, highlighting the intensity of the explosion.
The attack is the latest in a string of deadly assaults against Nigerian troops in the North-East, where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have continued to target military formations and patrol routes through gun attacks and the deployment of explosive devices.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had not released an official statement on the incident or provided further clarification on the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
In a related incident in November 2025, SaharaReporters reported that suspected ISWAP militants ambushed a Nigerian military convoy in northeastern Nigeria, killing several soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). That attack was described as highly coordinated and left multiple casualties, triggering widespread panic in the area.
SaharaReporters further reported that during the November assault, the attackers abducted a serving brigade commander along with other military personnel.