In a harrowing incident on Saturday, four members of the Nigerian military were injured after their patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device followed by a calculated ambush. The attack took place along the critical Damboa–Kumala–Maiduguri supply route in Borno State, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama, who shared details on his X account Sunday.
The assault unfolded around 11:45 a.m. on May 16, roughly nine kilometers from Kumala Junction in Konduga Local Government Area. Soldiers from the 25 Brigade, who were conducting a dominance patrol on the strategic highway, encountered a command-detonated IED believed to have been planted by suspected militants. Shortly after the blast, they came under enemy fire in a well-orchestrated ambush.
Despite the sudden attack, the troops fought valiantly and managed to push through, though four soldiers sustained injuries during the exchange. In response, reinforcements from the brigade headquarters, together with an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, were dispatched to the area to clear the route and bolster ongoing security operations. The EOD team later discovered and safely neutralized another suspected IED along the same stretch of road.
Security sources also revealed that the troops successfully escorted 89 civilian vehicles through the corridor as a protective measure. However, 165 other vehicles were turned back to Damboa due to the heightened threat posed by the attack. The incident underscores the persistent danger faced by Nigerian forces and civilians in the region.