Passengers pray for restoration of peace after at least 12 people killed in improvised explosive device blasts planted by insurgents on Dikwa-Gamboru highway.

At least 10 people have been killed and many wounded on Tuesday, December 9, when two vehicles drove over improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by insurgents on the Dikwa-Gamboru Ngala road in Borno State.

The blasts occurred at about 9am. A pick-up driver was killed instantly and his conductor was critically wounded. He was found lying in the bushes. He later succumbed to his injuries.

Eight passengers, including two children, who were travelling in the second vehicle, a minibus, died when their vehicle also drove over an IED. Many others were reported to be wounded in the blasts.

The blasts on Tuesday followed three separate IED bombings on Monday morning on the same road. Two truck drivers were killed and three trucks were destroyed.
A security operative, who asked to remain anonymous, told RNI that so far 10 bodies had been recovered from Tuesday’s bombing. He said many people were also seriously wounded.

He said the death toll kept changing as more corpses were being found scattered in the bushes alongside the road. Many of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition.

“Security operatives are still searching for more bodies. We will only know the exact number once they are done.”
A truck driver, who asked to remain anonymous, told RNI that there were three separate explosions on Monday during which two truck drivers were killed and three trucks destroyed. Three people were wounded, he said.

“All the blasts took place along the bridge leading to k3nyu area. The pick-up driver who died today [Tuesday] is known as Kareto and he is from the Marte Local Government area of Borno State. He mostly travelled between Gamboru-Ngala and Maiduguri.

“We do not know who is to blame for the blasts, but we are sure they are members of either the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād [JAS] or the Islamic State West Africa Province [ISWAP].

“All we know is that since January 3 when there was a misunderstanding between a truck driver and soldiers, there has been trouble on this road. The truck driver was allegedly beaten to death by a soldier who is now under arrest and the incident is being investigated.”

The truck driver’s killing angered union workers who blocked the road for days in protest against the soldier’s actions.
“We are all confused about what is happening here. All we can do right now is to render prayers and seek protection from the Almighty.”

Passengers travelling on the road told RNI that what was happening on the highway was “tragic”. They said they were praying for peace to be restored.
They said they were also pleading with both the federal and Borno State governments to provide better protection on the road.

“It seems no one is safe on this highway,” one passenger said.

AYSHA MUSTAPHA KOLOMI