BREAKING: Explosive Devices Planted By Boko Haram Kill Nine Nigerian Soldiers, Injure Several In Borno

A top military source disclosed details of the incident to SaharaReporters during an exclusive interview on Monday morning.

No fewer than nine Nigerian soldiers have been confirmed killed following an explosion involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near Gubio in Borno State, SaharaReporters has learned.

A top military source disclosed details of the incident to SaharaReporters during an exclusive interview on Monday morning.

The military source confirmed that investigation revealed that the explosives were planted by Boko Haram.

The source explained that the soldiers were travelling from Maiduguri town when the deadly incident occurred.

According to the source, “while coming from Maiduguri town on Saturday, they stopped at 1 camp on the road in order for them to continue their journey on Sunday.”

The military source said several soldiers sustained injuries during the incident, adding that fatalities continued to rise after the initial blast.

“Eight died yesterday (Sunday) among those who sustained injuries while one just died this morning,” the source told SaharaReporters.

Clarifying the nature of the attack, the source stressed that it was not an ambush by gunmen but an explosion caused by planted devices.

“The incident happened at Gubio not ambush it was caused by explosive devices,” the source said.

He further confirmed that casualties were high, noting that “many sustain serious injury,” while adding that “nine people were confirmed dead already.”

Providing further details, the source said the affected soldiers were from “145 Damasak under 5 Brigade Maiduguri, Borno State,” adding that the “incident happened towards evening (on Sunday).”

A video and photograph obtained by SaharaReporters captured the aftermath of the deadly incident, showing several Nigerian Army personnel lying lifeless following what appeared to be a brutal attack.

The disturbing visuals revealed that many of the slain soldiers had “severed body parts,” suggesting they were hit by powerful explosive devices.

Some of the bodies showed injuries consistent with bomb blasts, underscoring the ferocity of the explosion.

The incident is the latest in a series of deadly attacks targeting Nigerian troops in the North-East, where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents have continued to carry out coordinated assaults on military formations and patrol routes using both gun attacks and explosive devices.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had yet to issue an official statement on the incident or provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the explosion.

In a similar incident in November 2025, SaharaReporters reported that suspected ISWAP fighters ambushed a Nigerian military convoy in northeastern Nigeria, killing several soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

During that attack, the insurgents, described as armed and highly organised, carried out a coordinated strike that left several casualties and spread panic across the region.

SaharaReporters also reported that the attackers abducted a serving Brigade Commander along with other military personnel.

WATCH: Explosive Devices Planted By Boko Haram Kill Nine Nigerian Soldiers, Injure Several In Borno pic.twitter.com/nZq5LeE01Q

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) January 5, 2026