According to Premium Times, the explosion occurred on Tuesday morning, November 1, 2016 along Maiduguri-Gubio town.

All passengers on board were reportedly killed in the explosion, which occurred shortly after the pickup van climbed tarred road from the bush path it emerged from.

Confirming the occurrence, Police Public Relations Officer, Victor Isuku, said: “There was an explosion today along Gubio road just before the military check point.”

Speaking further, the Deputy Superintendent of Police further said: “According to preliminary report, a pick up van with nine persons onboard, emerged from a bush path to join the road to Gubio town, when it exploded killing all the persons onboard.”

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The pickup explosion is the fifth in the last three weeks within and around Maiduguri, which has witnessed a series of recent bomb attacks.