A suicide bomber targeted a military installation in northeastern Nigeria, close to the Cameroon border, resulting in the deaths of at least five soldiers, according to both security and local defense sources.
The incident occurred on Sunday at a military point in Firgi, near the town of Pulka in Borno state, as reported by sources to AFP on Tuesday morning.
Rising Tensions in the Region
This year has seen an escalation in attacks by terrorists on military bases in the northeast region. Umar Sa’idu, a member of the local community, reported that medical personnel at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) confirmed the deaths of the five victims shortly after the attack. “We escorted them, and after a few hours, the hospital confirmed their deaths,” he shared with AFP via phone.
Military Response
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the spokesperson for the military in the northeast, verified the attack’s occurrence. “Our brave soldiers engaged the attacker as he attempted to detonate the explosives at their position,” Uba stated to AFP. He added, “Regrettably, our courageous soldiers suffered injuries of varying degrees and are currently receiving medical treatment.”
Suspected Boko Haram Link
Sa’idu indicated that the bomber was believed to be affiliated with Boko Haram and likely originated from the nearby Mandara Mountains. Bukar Aji, a local hunter, described how the assailant approached the troops before triggering an explosive device attached to his body. Police have acknowledged the incident but have not provided further information.
The History
Pulka is situated close to the Mandara Mountains, a border area between Nigeria and Cameroon. The last significant suicide bombing in Nigeria occurred in June, when a woman, reportedly linked to Boko Haram, killed 20 members of the anti-terrorism forces in Borno state.
Earlier in January, military reports indicated that at least 27 soldiers lost their lives in a terrorist attack on a wasteland straddling Borno and Yobe states, marking it as one of the deadliest suicide attacks on Nigerian troops in recent times.
