A suicide attack in Nigeria claimed the lives of five soldiers, writes AFP

A suicide bombing in northeastern Nigeria left at least five soldiers dead, security and defense sources cited by AFP said on Monday evening and Tuesday morning. The army confirmed that the attack had taken place, but denied any casualties. TASR informs about it.

According to several sources, the attack took place on Sunday and its target was a military post near the remote town of Pulka in Borno state, near the border with Cameroon.

Victims of the attack

“I counted five bodies lying in blood behind my house,” said a member of a government-backed community militia who helped take the victims to hospital. He added that hospital staff confirmed after several hours that all five persons had died. According to him, the attacker probably belonged to the jihadist group Boko Haram.

A local hunter quoted by AFP said he saw the attacker approach the soldiers and detonate an explosive device attached to his body.

Denying the deaths of soldiers

The armed forces also confirmed the attack. However, their spokesman in the northeast of Nigeria, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, denied the deaths among the soldiers.

“Our brave soldiers shot dead the assailant when he tried to carry out a bomb attack on their own position. Unfortunately, our brave soldiers sustained various injuries and are currently receiving medical attention,” Uba said.

Suicide bombings were once one of Boko Haram’s main tactics. But they have become less frequent in recent years as the military has achieved success in the fight against jihadists.