An improvised explosive device (IED) explosion has claimed the lives of six passengers, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries as they were en route from Chibok to the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

BusinessDay gathered that the incident occurred on Thursday when a 14-seater Sharon vehicle ran over a planted IED along the Maiduguri-Damboa road.

A motorist who spoke with our correspondents said the IED was suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram terrorists.

He said, “Six women lost their lives while travelling to Chibok town for the Christmas festivities. After it exploded, most of the passengers, including women and children, were wounded.”

According to a source familiar with the incident, “The explosion happened on Thursday evening and involved a Sharon vehicle, from which only two passengers survived.”

The source also confirmed that troops of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies detonated three additional planted IEDs following the first explosion. (BusinessDay)