At least four people have been confirmed dead and 21 others injured after a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded along the Katarko-Goniri Road in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State on Friday.
The victims, mostly traders, were reportedly on their way to the popular Buniyadi market when their vehicle ran over the buried explosive. The blast occurred near Gotala community, an area close to the Sambisa forest, a known hideout of Boko Haram insurgents.
Eyewitnesses said this was not the first explosion in the area, as vigilantes and military vehicles were reportedly affected by similar blasts along the same route just a day earlier, with several casualties.
The bodies of the four deceased have been taken home for burial, while those injured are receiving treatment at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital and a specialist hospital in Damaturu.
So far, there has been no official statement from the military regarding the incident.
Meanwhile, relatives of the victims and residents of Gotala community are calling on the Yobe State Government to urgently fix the badly damaged road, which they say is putting both civilians and security forces at greater risk of attacks.
Gujba and other nearby areas have suffered repeated attacks over the years due to their proximity to insurgent-held areas. The latest incident is a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by explosive devices in rural communities of northeast Nigeria.
