Gamboru Ngala, Borno state, witnessed a horrific event on Saturday, as eight members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) perished after encountering an improvised explosive device (IED) believed to have been planted by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.
The CJTF members, a group of civilian volunteers who assist the Nigerian military in fighting Boko Haram and ISWAP, were reportedly on their way back to Maiduguri, 90 miles east of Gamboru Ngala when their vehicle struck the deadly device. Zagazola Makama, a Lake Chad region counter-insurgency publication, confirmed eight fatalities.
While the CJTF members paid the ultimate price, three others were left injured and rushed to medical facilities. The deceased were returned to their families for burial arrangements.
This incident adds to the string of recent clashes between Nigerian forces and ISWAP in the Northeast State of Borno. On April 17th, another IED attack on a civilian vehicle claimed ten lives and left twenty injured. However, in a positive development, the Nigerian Army successfully destroyed an ISWAP hideout and their bread factory within Borno on April 21st.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
