Nine Soldiers Killed in Terrorist Ambush Near Kareto

At least nine Nigerian soldiers were killed on Monday, January 5, after their convoy encountered a landmine followed by a coordinated terrorist assault near Bindundul village.

The incident took place roughly 12 miles from Kareto, a region known for the active presence of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants who frequently establish illegal checkpoints.

Security personnel from the Damasak brigade reported that the soldiers’ vehicle struck an explosive device planted by the insurgents, resulting in nine immediate fatalities and leaving five others with critical injuries.

According to Abba Kaka Tuja, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force, the detonation completely destroyed an armored vehicle before militants opened fire on the remaining troops. The convoy was en route from Maiduguri to Damasak, the administrative center of Mobbar Local Government Area, when the deadly ambush occurred.

The attack near Kareto highlights a persistent security challenge in the Lake Chad Basin region. Despite recent military successes, ISWAP continues to utilize Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) as a primary tool to disrupt troop movements and logistics.