Tragic IED Attack Kills Mother and Child in Borno’s Sikarkur Village

A tragic incident unfolded in Sikarkur village, Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, on Monday, when a civilian vehicle unknowingly drove over an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram. The blast claimed the lives of several individuals, including a mother and her child, while many others sustained various degrees of injuries. The explosion also caused extensive damage to the vehicle and surrounding buildings, which were burned in the aftermath.

The IED was reportedly planted by ISWAP militants to target military patrol vehicles that regularly pass through the area. This deadly trap, intended for soldiers, instead claimed innocent civilian lives. A local villager, speaking to SaharaReporters, confirmed the incident, adding that the injured were being treated at Chibok General Hospital.

This attack comes shortly after ISWAP launched another devastating assault on two communities within the same Chibok Local Government Area. The militants set fire to homes and a church, leaving many dead and the area in chaos. Chibok itself gained international notoriety in 2014 when Boko Haram militants kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Secondary School.

ISWAP, which has gained strength since the death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, continues to consolidate its presence around Lake Chad. The group has grown significantly with the defection of hundreds of former Boko Haram fighters and has caused immense suffering in the northeastern region, displacing millions and claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands.