Tragedy struck on Friday along the Katarko-Goniri Road in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, as a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated, killing four individuals and injuring 21 others.

The incident occurred when a vehicle carrying several passengers from the Gotala community drove over the device while en route to the bustling Buniyadi market.

The Gotala community, situated on the fringes of the notorious Sambisa Forest, has long been vulnerable to insurgent activities. The area is known to be a hideout for suspected Boko Haram militants who have been operating there for more than 15 years. This latest incident underscores the ongoing threat faced by residents and commuters in the region.

According to reports gathered at Damaturu Specialist Hospital by Channels Television, the bodies of the four deceased victims had already been returned to their families for burial.

Meanwhile, the 21 injured individuals are currently receiving treatment at both the Damaturu Specialist Hospital and the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital.

Further accounts revealed that the explosion was not an isolated event. Some eyewitnesses claimed that earlier on the same day, a convoy comprising vigilante members and military vehicles also struck a similar buried IED along the same route. Casualties were reported, though the exact number of injured or killed security personnel remains unconfirmed.

As of the time this report was filed, the Nigerian military had yet to release any official statement concerning the incident.

Family members of the victims, speaking from the hospitals, expressed deep frustration and sorrow over the avoidable loss of lives.

They appealed passionately to the Yobe State Government to take immediate action by reconstructing and securing the deteriorating Katarko-Goniri Road.

According to them, the current condition of the road not only endangers local communities but also exposes the nearby military formation at Goniri to grave risks from continued insurgent attacks.

The tragic event has reignited calls for enhanced security measures, infrastructural development, and renewed governmental commitment to protecting civilians in conflict-prone areas of northeastern Nigeria.