A suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber has blown off five soldiers in the Pulka area of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday.
The bomber was reportedly came out of their hideout in the Mandara mountains and disguised as a passerby and detonated the bomb close to the soldiers at a checkpoint, killing five.
The military has yet to speak about the development at the time of filing this report.
The retired army general said the deployment of soldiers to the bush and leaving the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to take over checkpoint duties is one of his key strategies for tackling insurgency in the nation.
The incident occurred hours after NAR jets bombed several civilians including drivers who went to the area to transport fish at the Daban Masara area of Kukawa Local Government Area of the state.
According to local media report, the number of victims is five, all drivers, with their vehicles also destroyed.
It said the three gun trucks belonging to insurgents were also destroyed.
The Nigerian Air Force told journalists that the bombs were targeted at identified locations and vehicles associated with the terrorists, which killed some terrorists.
It said the operation was conducted on Sunday by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai following intelligence reports on the presence of a terrorist workshop and movements linked to armed elements in the area.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, on Monday directed the withdrawal of soldiers from road checkpoints and their redeployment into the bush to directly confront terrorists.
He said the capacity of terrorist groups, bandits and other criminal elements had been significantly degraded across multiple theatres.
Musa who was speaking at the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Annual Conference 2025, held at Nebo Hall, Abalti Barracks, Lagos State, said the gains reflected the courage of troops, improved planning and execution, as well as the growing impact of coordinated operations conducted within a joint and multi-agency framework.
