Six people were tragically killed on Sunday after a commercial vehicle ran over an explosive device planted by bandits along the Dansadau-Gusau Road in Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
The attack is believed to be part of a reprisal mission by the bandits targeting Unguwar Yargaladima village.
It was gathered that the bandits planted the explosives following the completion of community work on the road, and it is suspected that the device was strategically positioned to prevent any military intervention.
The attack follows the recent killing of the bandits’ leader, Sani Black, by the village’s vigilante group, which led the bandits to retaliate.
Sani Musa, a local resident, explained that the bandits had received information from an informant within the community about the military’s planned intervention.
To thwart any possible rescue mission, the bandits planted the explosive on a bridge, aiming to target both military personnel and civilians.
Tragically, a commercial vehicle, a Volkswagen Golf 3, unknowingly triggered the bomb, resulting in a devastating explosion that killed six passengers and left eight others injured.
“The vehicle was completely destroyed, and six bodies were recovered from the wreckage.
Several others sustained injuries, and they were rushed to Dansadau General Hospital,” said
Abdullahi Dansadau, another resident. The blast caused extensive damage to the vehicle, and the survivors’ conditions remain uncertain.
Despite the explosion, the bandits, believed to be in large numbers, continued their assault on Unguwar Yargaladima, where military personnel had already set up an ambush in response to intelligence about the attack.
In a subsequent clash, soldiers opened fire on the bandits, killing many during the operation, part of the ongoing “Operation Fansan Arewa.”
The use of explosives, particularly Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), remains a significant challenge in the region’s fight against terrorism and banditry.
General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, recently highlighted the difficulties posed by IEDs during military operations, describing them as a major threat to security forces in the area.
The incident has yet to be officially confirmed by the police or military. Yazid Abubakar, Public Relations Officer for the Zamfara State Police Command, stated that he was still awaiting confirmation from local authorities on the exact number of casualties.
The rise of such deadly attacks underscores the growing security challenges faced by Zamfara State, where banditry and terrorism have become rampant, with both local and national authorities struggling to contain the violence.
Meanwhile, just days before this incident, another deadly blast occurred along the same road, further escalating tensions in the region.
The authorities are grappling with the ongoing threat posed by terrorist groups employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to destabilize the area, with innocent travelers bearing the brunt of these deadly attacks.