At least 16 dead in IED explosion in northeastern Nigeria

April 19 (EUROPA PRESS) –

At least 16 people have died and twenty have been injured while traveling on a bus that was hit by an improvised explosive device in the town of Kukawa, in Borno state, in the far northeast of Nigeria.

The Nigerian newspaper 'The Punch' has reported the toll of victims and has indicated that it is suspected that the mine had been placed by alleged members of the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA).

Authorities have indicated that the event is under investigation, since the objective was for a military vehicle to pass over the improvised explosive device.

Northeastern Nigeria is the scene of frequent attacks by Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA). The growing insecurity in the region has resulted in thousands of kidnappings at the hands of terrorist groups and other criminal gangs, who live off ransom payments after kidnappings.