Brief – Five Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members on patrol along the Damboa-Biu road were killed when their vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device (IED) on Saturday, April 2.

A CJTF member, who survived the blast, told RNI that three members were killed instantly by the handmade bomb and two other badly wounded members died in hospital. He said many had been wounded and were receiving treatment.

The CJTF was on was on patrol with soldiers when the blast occurred just before noon at Murimari village between Biu and Damboa.

The survivor said the road was closed to civilians and only security operatives patrolling the area could use it. “This was not the first explosion of this type, but I have not seen as many casualties as today.”

Shettima Lawan Monguno