A soldier and four civilians have been confirmed dead in a bomb explosion near a military checkpoint in troubled Borno State in the country’s North-East.

Explaining the circumstances behind the explosion, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said in a statement: “At about 8.15am today a tricycle, known as Keke NAPEP unknowingly stepped on an Improvise Explosive Device (IED) planted by the side of Biu-Damboa road close to a military checkpoint at the outskirts of Biu town, Borno State.

“Unfortunately, the IED exploded instantly killing 4 persons comprising of a woman with her baby and 2 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.”

Col. Usman explained that the general area has been cordoned off and Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) team from Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Buratai have been mobilised to carry out further search of the area.

“Preliminary investigations shows that the IED was buried long time ago undetected. 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.

He said that “this unfortunate development has brought to the fore, the need for more security consciousness and vigilance among all,” adding:

“We would like to reiterate that the explosion would not deter us from seeing to the end of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding through our 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.”