Two soldiers were reportedly killed, while another sustained injuries in the early hours of Wednesday after an improvised explosive device (IED), allegedly planted by bandits, exploded along the Tidibale-Tagirke axis in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The latest incident is the third IED attack recorded in eastern Sokoto within 11 days.

Sources told Daily Trust that the soldiers, attached to the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Tidibale, were responding to a distress call from the neighbouring Tagirke community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, which was reportedly under attack, when their vehicle ran over the explosive.

A resident of Isa LGA said two soldiers were killed in the blast, while another, identified simply as Abubakar, popularly known as Bukar, sustained injuries.

“The troops were on their way to reinforce security personnel after receiving reports of an attack when their vehicle struck the IED. Two soldiers died while one survived with injuries,” the source said.

The explosion occurred along the Tidibale–Tagirke route. Although Tagirke is in neighbouring Sabon Birni LGA, the blast occurred within Isa LGA.

The incident came barely 11 days after three soldiers were reportedly killed and nine others injured when an IED exploded at Bargaja on June 20.

Last Sunday, another IED detonated along the Kurawa–Sabon Birni road, damaging a vehicle and a motorcycle and leaving several travellers injured, although no deaths were recorded.

Residents across Sokoto East said the repeated use of roadside explosives had heightened fear in the area and made movement increasingly dangerous for both civilians and security personnel.

Similarly, a resident of Sabon Birni town, who also requested anonymity, described the use of IEDs as a worrying shift in the tactics of armed groups and urged the government to act swiftly.

A security analyst, Dr Kabir Jabo, said the repeated IED attacks reflected the deteriorating security situation in the affected communities.

He said the continued attacks suggested that the armed groups were becoming more daring despite ongoing military operations, stressing the need for the authorities to reassess their security strategy.

When contacted, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division Nigerian Army and Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt Col Olaniyi Osoba, referred Daily Trust to the police for confirmation of the incident.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Sokoto State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls, text messages or WhatsApp messages sent to him.

The Chairman of Isa Local Government Area, Sharehu Abubakar Kamarawa, also did not respond to a text message sent to him, while his telephone lines could not be reached as of press time. (Daily Trust)