BOKO HARAM LANDMINE KILLS TWO EDUCATION STAFF IN BORNO

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By Oduola F.A.

Another landmine, suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram terrorists, has claimed the lives of two staff members of the Damboa Local Government Education Authority (LEA) in Borno State.

The tragic incident occurred just hours after AIG Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone 15, convened an emergency security stakeholders’ meeting in Maiduguri to address escalating security concerns, including isolated attacks, banditry, kidnapping, and the unchecked movement of people and goods across the state.

The incident took place on Monday along the troubled Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu 185 km road.

Damboa is in the Southern Borno Senatorial District, where Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume represents at the National Assembly.

Recently several incidents happened along the route, leaving scores dead and injured.

Sources and eyewitnesses said, “The tragic loss of two dedicated staff members of the Damboa Educational Local Authority, Blessing Luka and Bitaleaf Gedion, is very worrisome. They lost their lives in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion along the Damboa to Maiduguri highway on 12/05/2025 after a Toyota pickup vehicle which conveyed them with fresh mangoes heading to Maiduguri stumbled on the planted landmines.

“This heartbreaking incident occurred as they were travelling to Maiduguri to sit for the TRCN examination scheduled for Friday, 16/05/2025. What was meant to be a journey of professional advancement turned into a devastating tragedy that has shaken the entire community.

“Both individuals were committed educators, serving as class teachers in their respective schools.

“Blessing Luka served at Junior Day New School in Damboa, while Bitaleaf Gedion served at Junior Day Secondary School (UBE) Islamiya, Damboa.

“Their untimely deaths are not only a great loss to the educational sector in Damboa but also a stark reminder of the ongoing insecurity that continues to affect our region,” they lamented.

The District Head of Damboa, Alhaji Zanna Lawan Maina, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the phone, where he also appealed for all and sundry to continue offering prayers for peace to reign in Borno and the country as a whole.

Reacting to the development, Senator Ali Ndume described the renewed attacks as shocking, stressing the need for the federal government and the security agencies to wake up from their slumber.

He said, “Unless and until the federal government provides the needed sophisticated weapons to the security agencies in confronting the insurgents who have advanced far in their modus operandi against frontline troops in the region.

“Let me reiterate that the military must be Trained, Equipped Armed, Motivated (TEAM) to enable them to defeat the renewed attacks,” he cautioned.