Explosion Rocks Zamfara Highway as Suspected Bandits Detonate IED

The Nigeria Police Force in Zamfara State has confirmed an explosion suspected to have been caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along the Gusau–Funtua highway, which destroyed a trailer conveying cement.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at Ungwar Mai Chida, where suspected bandits reportedly planted the explosive device on the highway.

Eyewitnesses said the IED detonated when the trailer, which was travelling from Kaduna to Sokoto, ran over it. The explosion blew off the truck and caused heavy traffic congestion along the busy route.

Despite the severity of the blast, no lives were lost. The driver of the ill-fated truck sustained injuries but was rescued alive.

A resident disclosed that the explosion happened only hours after a joint team of police and military operatives cleared and reopened the Kucheri–Danjibga–Keta road in Tsafe Local Government Area.

The road had remained impassable for over a month following the discovery of previously planted IEDs by criminal elements.

The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Maikaba, stated that combined tactical teams of the police and military; particularly the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units, had successfully detected and detonated multiple IEDs along the Kucheri–Danjibga–Keta axis.

Authorities say security operations are ongoing to ensure the safety of motorists and residents in the affected areas.