A deadly explosion believed to have been caused by a buried Improvised Explosive Device (IED) killed four people and injured 21 others on Friday along the Katarko-Goniri Road in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The victims, mostly residents of Gotala Community, were en route to the popular Buniyadi market when their vehicle triggered the explosive.
Channels Television correspondent, who visited Damaturu Specialist Hospital, confirmed that the deceased had been taken home for burial, while the injured are receiving treatment at both the Specialist Hospital and Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, Damaturu.
The Gotala community lies at the edge of the Sambisa forest, a region plagued by suspected Boko Haram insurgents for over 15 years.
An unconfirmed report also indicated that vigilante and military vehicles reportedly encountered a similar buried IED along the same route a day earlier, resulting in additional casualties.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been released by the military authorities.
Relatives of the victims, speaking from the hospitals, appealed to the Yobe State Government to urgently reconstruct the dilapidated Katarko-Goniri road, warning that continued neglect leaves civilians and the military formation in Goniri dangerously exposed to further insurgent attacks.
