Tension as no fewer than 26 soldiers were reportedly killed when their truck hit an improvised explosive device in restive Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.

Another 20 soldiers were also reported to have been seriously wounded and taken to the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army hospital in Maiduguri, the state capital.

Military sources on Tuesday evening revealed that the incident occurred when a military truck conveying soldiers from Damboa to Maiduguri hit a landmine.

According to the source, “Twenty-six Nigerian soldiers were killed today (Tuesday) as they were moving from Damboa to Maiduguri, Borno State capital. The incident happened when their truck hit a landmine, killing 26 soldiers on the spot. Twenty other soldiers were equally wounded and have been taken to the 7 Division, Nigerian Army Hospital for treatment.”

The deadly blast one of sources who pleaded anonymity said occurred while the handing over ceremony of the former General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Haruna, to the new GOC for the Division, Brig-Gen. V. I. Una Nwachukwu, was taking place.

The incident comes amid increasing violence in northeast Nigeria in recent days, with the death toll rising to at least 50 people.

The region has been plagued for decades by armed groups, including the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, with violence flaring up in recent days.

The Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Telegram on Tuesday.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, had earlier told Nigeria’s defence minister and military chiefs that Boko Haram and ISWAP were entrenching themselves in Lake Chad islands, Sambisa Forest, and Mandara mountains on the border with Cameroon due to “military setbacks.”

Meanwhile, the military has yet to confirm the incident as efforts to speak with the Acting Director, Nigeria Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Apolonia Anele were unsuccessful as she could not be reached on telephone as at the time of filing this report.

SAHARA REPORTERS

Rilokwah Jatau, a 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), was found dead in an apparent suicide in the university’s senior staff quarters.

The discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by Emmanuel Gyawo, a security officer at the university, who was directed by Professor Shedrack Jatau to check on his son.

Upon arriving at the residence, Gyawo found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.

Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of state at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.

The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. His body has been deposited in the hospital morgue.

Police sources say investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has announced the discontinuation of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship programme.

Alausa made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by newly elected officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

He described the BEA programme as an inefficient use of public resources, noting that many of the courses pursued abroad under the scheme were readily available in Nigerian universities.

“I was asked to approve N650 million for 60 students going to Morocco under the BEA programme when I assumed office in 2024.

“I refused. It’s not fair to the majority of Nigerian students,” Alausa said.

The minister expressed dissatisfaction with the behaviour of some beneficiaries, who he claimed had resorted to “blackmail” on social media over delayed allowances.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several BEA scholars had previously accused the Federal Government of abandoning them and failing to pay their entitlements.

However, the government recently clarified that all supplementary allowances had been paid up to December 2024.

Established through diplomatic partnerships, the BEA programme enabled Nigerian students to study in countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia.

Alausa said the government would now redirect BEA funds toward domestic scholarship schemes to benefit a larger number of students.

“I reviewed the courses, some students were sent to Algeria, a French-speaking country, to study English, Psychology, and Sociology, programmes we offer better here in Nigeria,” he said.

He criticised the lack of academic oversight, revealing that scholars received free annual travel without proper performance monitoring.

“In 2025 alone, the government planned to spend N9 billion on just 1,200 students.

“That’s unjust when millions of students in Nigeria receive no support. Every single course these students are studying abroad is available in Nigerian universities,” he said.

Alausa stressed that while current beneficiaries would be allowed to complete their programmes, the BEA scheme would not continue beyond 2025.

“We are cancelling the BEA. It is not the best use of public funds. The money will now be used to fund local scholarships and support more Nigerian students,” he said.

Earlier, the newly elected NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, commended the minister for reforms and progress achieved since assuming office. (NAN)