A Nigerian army patrol vehicle struck a landmine near the border with Cameroon on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of eight soldiers, according to defence sources. The incident occurred in Kinuba village, approximately 25 kilometers from Gamboru, in Borno state, located in northeastern Nigeria.

The explosion took place as troops were inspecting members of an anti-jihadist militia who were clearing dense vegetation along the highway outside Gamboru. Their vehicle detonated the mine, killing all personnel on board. One militia member supervising the clearing operation was reportedly injured by shrapnel during the blast.

The attack has been attributed to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which remains active in the region. ISWAP, along with its rival group Boko Haram, has increasingly employed improvised explosives and landmines on roadways to target Nigerian military forces and civilians.

This incident coincided with a visit by Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Nigerian army chief, to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, on the same day. His visit came in response to a recent assault on a military base in the area that left 15 soldiers and five militia members dead.

Jihadist violence in Nigeria, which began in 2009, has declined from its peak about a decade ago, but attacks have resurged over the past two years. Militants often use the thick roadside vegetation as cover for ambushes against security forces and travelers.

Officials emphasize the ongoing security challenges in northeastern Nigeria, where military operations and local militia efforts continue to confront jihadist groups seeking to destabilize the region.