In northeast Nigeria’s Borno state near the Cameroon border, a landmine struck a vehicle, killing at least 12 loggers on Monday. The incident occurred outside Pulka village on a highway where Boko Haram jihadists are active. The loggers were en route to collect firewood when the mine, suspected to be planted by Boko Haram, caused the fatal accident, as reported by two NGOs working in the region on Wednesday.
“Men suspected to be Boko Haram… planted explosive… and killed 12 people while many were injured along Pulka to Gwoza route,” one of the reports read.
According to the same report, seven additional loggers were injured, with three in critical condition, and they have been evacuated to Maiduguri for further medical attention. Nigerian security forces have not confirmed the blast. Recent mine explosions targeting civilian convoys, attributed to jihadists, have seen a surge. Gwoza, seized by Boko Haram in July 2014, was retaken by Nigerian troops in March 2015, but the jihadists still operate in nearby areas, conducting raids from hideouts in the mountains along the Cameroon border. Villagers displaced from the region now reside in camps under military protection in Gwoza and Pulka. Troops conduct patrols to deter militants from harming residents venturing into the bush, particularly women collecting acacia fruits and firewood.
Both Boko Haram and the rival Islamic State West Africa Province target loggers, farmers, and herders, accusing them of spying for troops and anti-jihadist militia. The insurgency, which began in 2009, has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and displaced more than two million people, spreading into neighboring Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, leading to the formation of a regional military force to combat the militants.
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