Two vehicles drove over landmines in Gamboru-Ngala and Dikwa local government areas of Borno State over the last week, leaving at least 11 persons dead and five injured.
It was confirmed that nine personnel of the Civilian Joint Task Force, died last Saturday, April 27 at Gamboru-Ngala LGA, and two civilians, died Saturday, May 4 at Dikwa LGA.
“Our personnel drove out of Ngala in the afternoon of last week Saturday; and just at the outskirts of the town, their vehicle drove over a landmine suspected to have been planted by terrorists,” Borno State CJTF spokesman, Bashir Abbas said, The PUNCH reports.
“Nine of them died on the spot and two got serious injuries and were rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, as the vehicle was completely damaged,” he confirmed.
However, an eyewitness, Rawa Fannami, a resident of Dikwa, confirming the Damno-Dikwa incident said, “Five persons died on the spot when the vehicle drove over the landmine.”
Fannami explained that the fated vehicle was part of a wedding convoy conveying a bride from Damno to Dikwa. I was not the vehicle carrying the bride.
He said the shattered remains of the deceased could only be gathered in sacks for burial.
