At least two soldiers are feared dead and several others wounded after their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) while rushing to defend the Bargaja community in the Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The military convoy was responding to an urgent distress call in the early hours of Saturday following an invasion by heavily armed bandits. Reports indicate that the criminals stormed the village between 12:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., opening fire indiscriminately and forcing terrified residents to cry out for military backing.
Local sources alleged that the bandits had strategically mined the Isa–Bargaja road ahead of the rescue team’s arrival.
“They were on their way to rescue us when the vehicle hit the explosive.
Many soldiers were affected. One of the soldiers involved in the incident later ran into our village seeking help after the explosion,” a resident speaking anonymously revealed, noting that the soldier who reached the village had sustained severe leg injuries.
The local resident voiced deep anxiety regarding the evolving tactics of the bandits, pointing to the alarming rise in their use of explosives along key connecting roads. “We have seen the bodies of two soldiers, but we cannot say whether there were more casualties,” he said, pleading with authorities to step in and secure the area.
Showing solidarity with the military, members of the community traveled to a military camp in Isa town to express their condolences.
“We hired two vehicles from our community and went to Isa to condole with the military over the loss of their personnel,” another resident stated.
This source claimed the death toll might actually stand at three, including the driver of the targeted vehicle, adding that one victim was severely disfigured by the blast before the bodies were transported to Sokoto.
Additional accounts suggest the military was caught in a highly coordinated trap. An anonymous source familiar with the incident alleged that the attackers deliberately allowed a leading Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) to pass through before targeting the following Hilux truck with a lethal mix of gunfire and explosives.
“The APC was at the front and was allowed to pass. The attackers then opened fire and detonated an explosive device targeting the Hilux behind it,” the source alleged. He noted that one soldier reportedly retreated into the nearby forest during the chaos, sparking ongoing search and rescue efforts.
The ambush triggered an all-night gun battle involving residents, security forces, and the bandits, throwing the entire region into a state of panic.
“We never slept yesterday because of the sound of gunfire. I can’t confirm the exact number of the casualties. Wait till after we gather accurate information about the incident,” a local source added.
Official confirmation from military authorities remains unavailable. Similarly, DSP Ahmad Rufai, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, did not respond to phone calls, text messages, or WhatsApp inquiries. Efforts to contact Sharehu Abubakar Kamarawa, the Chairman of Isa Local Government Area, were also unsuccessful as his lines were unreachable.
This deadly ambush highlights a worrying trend in the North-West, where armed groups are increasingly adopting guerrilla tactics, including the deployment of IEDs against both security forces and civilian populations.
