Soldiers to the rescue as Nigerian farmer uncovers strange object on his farm

In what could have ended tragically, a Nigerian farmer narrowly escaped death after drawing the attention of military personnel to a strange object he uncovered on his farmland near Banki, in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, on Tuesday.

According to security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, troops conducting farm patrols around the area were alerted by the farmer, who stumbled upon an object that was later confirmed to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) buried in his field.

The device, which included mortar and artillery shells already primed for detonation, was successfully neutralised by a joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit.

On the same day, troops also discovered and detonated another IED along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road near Molai. Components including pressure plates and batteries — suspected to be intended for future attacks — were recovered.

In a broader context of counter-insurgency operations, the Nigerian Army also ramped up efforts to dismantle terrorist networks in the North East.

Makama noted that the ongoing operations across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States yielded significant results, including arrests, weapons recovery, and the neutralisation of militants in ambush missions.

One such breakthrough occurred on July 10 at Biu main market, where troops and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) apprehended two suspected terrorist collaborators.

The suspects, identified as Isah Abdullahi, 45, and Abdullahi Mohammed, 35 — both residents of Liya village in Biu Local Government Area — were intercepted while allegedly attempting to retrieve supplies believed to be intended for insurgents. The items had been delivered from Kano to Biu Motor Park.

Recovered items included a sack containing 13 pairs of military desert boots, 20 high-watt 9-volt batteries, and five pairs of slippers — all tagged with Isah’s phone number.