KANO: A landmine explosion has killed dozens of fighters from Deash-affiliated group in the Lake Chad region of Nigeria, Western media reported on Monday.
Reports quoted two anti-jihadist militia members as saying two trucks loaded with militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) exploded when they hit a mine outside Arina Masallaci village in Marte district.
Babakura Kolo said the vehicles were loaded with insurgents when the one in the front hit the mine and exploded along with the second truck.
He said that around 50 of the insurgents from both trucks were killed and others were wounded.
The militants were heading to launch an attack when the incident took place, said another militiaman Ibrahim Liman.
Militants suffered huge losses
He said the militants suffered huge losses in the accident.
ISWAP, which broke away from militant Boko Haram in 2016 to become a dominant force is active in the Lake Chad area where it is fighting with Boko Haram.
Liman went on to say that the landmine was planted some time ago against troops who patrol in the area but ultimately killed the militants.
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ISWAP and Boko Haram are known for installing landmines on roads and highways to target military and civilian convoys as part their 14-year-old insurgency to establish a Caliphate in the area. So far 40,000 people have been killed while two million displaced because of the ongoing fighting.
Late last month 20 people were killed in neighbouring Yobe state when their vehicle hit a landmine planted by ISWAP jihadists.
