The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for a deadly Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack that killed at least 26 people near Rann, a remote town in Kala-Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.
The tragic incident occurred around 11 a.m on Friday along the Furunduma axis, a route frequently used by commuters and displaced persons in the insurgency-hit region.
According to local residents and security sources, the explosion initially claimed 17 lives, including four women, six children, and seven other passengers. However, search and rescue efforts over the weekend led to the discovery of more corpses in the nearby bush, raising the official death toll to 26 by Monday.
According to Reuters, ISWAP claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on Telegram on Tuesday, reaffirming the casualty figure.
The attack marks one of the deadliest in recent months in the northeastern region, where military operations against insurgent groups have intensified.
