At least five Nigerian soldiers were killed on Tuesday after a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a military convoy in the Timbuktu Triangle area of Borno State.
Security sources confirmed that several other soldiers sustained injuries in the attack, including two senior officers—a major and a lieutenant—whose conditions were not immediately disclosed.
According to a soldier who spoke on condition of anonymity, the attackers used a vehicle packed with explosives to strike the convoy as troops were returning from a successful clearance operation that had dislodged several terrorist camps and neutralised many insurgents.
“The attack caused significant damage to military equipment used for both offensive and defensive operations in the weeks-long clearance exercise,” the source said.
Another officer confirmed the incident, describing it as a setback but stressing that the overall operation remains on course.
“Yes, every operation comes with setbacks, but we have overcome it. Unfortunately, we lost five soldiers in the incident. Manga, the commander, is hale and hearty, and the operation continues,” the officer said.
It was further gathered that several armoured and logistics vehicles were destroyed when the bomb-laden van crashed into the convoy. The remains of the deceased soldiers have since been flown to Maiduguri, while injured personnel were evacuated for medical treatment.
The Timbuktu Triangle is a notorious flashpoint in the North-East insurgency and was the location where terrorists previously ambushed, captured and executed Brigadier General Musa Uba.
Meanwhile, a day before the attack, troops of the Joint Task Force North East under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) announced significant gains in the same axis during ongoing Operation DESERT SANITY.
In a statement issued by the operation’s spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, troops on Sunday, 18 January 2026, conducted intelligence-led clearance operations across identified terrorist enclaves, including Chilaria, Garin Faruk and Abirma.
The operation, he said, was supported by the Air Component of OPHK, which provided sustained Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) coverage, enabling real-time tracking of terrorist movements and enhancing the effectiveness of ground troops.
During the operations, troops recovered items of military value, including Baofeng radios, mobile phones, five AK-47 magazines, several rounds of 7.62×39mm special ammunition and 7.62mm NATO belted ammunition, Boko Haram/ISWAP flags, links of 12.7×108mm ammunition, diesel-powered grinding machines, large quantities of medical supplies, bags of grains, a pickup truck, underground logistics storage facilities, and a Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant (POL) dump.
Lt. Col. Uba also disclosed that the troops came under armed drone attacks by terrorists around midday, with a second attempt made in the evening. Both attacks were decisively repelled, forcing the insurgents to retreat.
“Despite sustained engagements, troop morale remains high, and fighting efficiency continues to be maintained,” he said, adding that the general security situation in the area remains calm but unpredictable.
The Military High Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the operations, assuring that troops remain resolute in eliminating terrorist threats, protecting civilians, and restoring lasting peace and stability in the North-East.
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