May 13, (THEWILL) – Two staff members of the Damboa Local Government Education Authority (LEA) in Borno State have been killed by landmines planted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
The victims, identified as Blessing Luka and Bitaleaf Gedion, lost their lives on Monday along the volatile Maiduguri–Damboa–Biu Road.
Blessing was a teacher at Junior Day New School, Damboa, while Bitaleaf served at Junior Day Secondary School (UBE) Islamiya, Damboa.
Residents told newsmen on Tuesday that the victims were traveling in a Toyota pickup truck loaded with fresh mangoes en route to Maiduguri when the vehicle hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by insurgents along the highway.
“This heartbreaking incident occurred as they were traveling to Maiduguri to sit for the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) examination scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2025,” a resident said.
The District Head of Damboa, Alhaji Zanna Lawan Maina, confirmed the incident.
Reacting to the development, Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, described the renewed attacks as shocking. He called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts in the fight against insurgency.
“Unless the Federal Government provides the military with the sophisticated weapons they need to confront insurgents who have clearly advanced in tactics, we may continue to lose innocent lives. The military must be Trained, Equipped, Armed, and Motivated (TEAM) to defeat these renewed attacks,” Ndume cautioned.
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