The truck loaded with improvised explosives was meant to be donated at a military checkpoint near Maiduguri, it was learnt.

According to army spokesman, Sani Usman, the explosion occurred when the terrorists were trying to escape.

"They attempted to detonate at a checkpoint but were denied access by troops and as they turned back, it exploded killing all the eight occupants," he said.

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The checkpoint is the last security post leading out of Maiduguri towards the town of Gubio which was liberated from Boko Haram fighters last year.