Five farmers were killed on Wednesday when their vehicle hit a landmine near the restive northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, militia and residents said.
A truck bringing farmers and their harvest of cucumbers from nearby irrigation fields exploded when it hit a mine outside the town of Addamari, some 20 kilometres from Maiduguri, they said.
The incident which left 20 people injured was blamed on the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militant group, which last week attacked a military base in the town.
“Five people were killed and 20 injured in the explosion,” Babakura Kolo, an anti-jihadist militia leader in Maiduguri told AFP.
“The truck was returning from the fields outside the town around 12:40 pm (1130GMT) when it hit the mine planted in the middle of the road,” he said.
Kolo’s account was confirmed by Musa Ari, another militiaman.
Resident Kassim Butari who…
