The Nigerian military has confirmed that four people were killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Biu town of Southern Borno State.
The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, said that a tricycle, known as “Keke NAPEP”, had unknowingly stepped on an IED planted by the side of Biu -Damboa road close to a military checkpoint on the outskirts of Biu town, Borno State
Unfortunately, Usman said, the IED exploded instantly killing four persons comprising a woman with her baby and two other male adults.
“Three other persons were injured, including a soldier, and they were immediately evacuated to Biu General Hospital. We regret to state that the injured soldier also died at the hospital,” he said.
He noted that the general area has been cordoned off and Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) team from Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Buratai have been mobilized to carry out further search of the area.
According to Usman, preliminary investigations shows that the IED was buried long time ago undetected, adding that “it exploded when the tricycle erroneously stepped on it.
“We commiserate with the families of the victims of this sad incident”.
The army Spokesman said that the “unfortunate development has brought to the fore, the need for more security consciousness and vigilance among all”.
He assured that the explosion would not deter the military from seeing to the end of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding through the ongoing clearance operations.
“We want to use this opportunity to solicit for more cooperation from the members of the public to enable us succeed in the fight against the remnants of these criminal elements going by the appellation ‘Boko Haram terrorists,” he stated.
