At least five Nigerian soldiers were killed on Sunday after a suspected suicide bomber carried out an early-morning attack in Pulka, a community near Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The explosion reportedly occurred at a military checkpoint, according to security sources and local reports. As of the time of this report, the Nigerian Army has not released an official statement on the incident.

A security source with knowledge of the attack said the assailant managed to bypass security measures and gain access to the checkpoint area undetected. The attacker was believed to have hidden overnight behind sandbag fortifications before striking at dawn.

According to the source, the suspect infiltrated the area under the cover of darkness from the Mandara Mountain axis and remained concealed until soldiers deployed to man the checkpoint in the morning.

“He came down from the Mandara Mountains and spent the night hiding near the sandbags at the military position,” the source explained. “When the soldiers arrived at daybreak, he approached them and detonated the explosive device strapped to his body, killing five soldiers instantly along with himself.”

Further information suggests the bomber originated from the Mandara Hills, a mountainous region along the Nigeria–Cameroon border that has previously served as a refuge and transit corridor for insurgent elements.

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The attack highlights the persistent security threats facing parts of Borno State, even as military operations against insurgent groups continue across the region. Residents and security analysts say the incident underscores the enduring danger posed by suicide attacks and the urgent need for increased surveillance and tighter security around military formations and checkpoints.