Explosion Rocks Gusau-Funtua Highway In Zamfara

An explosion suspected to have been caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on Wednesday morning rocked the Gusau–Funtua highway in Zamfara State, damaging a trailer loaded with cement and causing significant traffic disruption.

The incident occurred around Unguwar Mai Chida village, where the device reportedly detonated as the vehicle was passing. Local sources believed the IED was planted by terrorists operating in the area.

According to eyewitnesses, the trailer, which was en route from Sokoto to Kaduna, sustained severe damage to its head. Fortunately, no lives were lost, as the driver was rescued alive by passersby.

A resident, identified as Samaila, said the explosion happened just hours after a joint team of police and military operatives cleared and reopened the Kucheri–Danjibga–Keta road in Tsafe Local Government Area, which had been inaccessible for over a month due to planted explosives.

“Security operatives had earlier encountered resistance during the clearance operation, resulting in an exchange of gunfire that lasted several hours,” Samaila said.

“The IED that struck the truck might have been among those initially planted to target security personnel.”

Another eyewitness, Lawali, a commercial driver, recounted how he and other motorists helped rescue the injured driver, identified as Dauda Adamu, from the wrecked vehicle.

“The blast was extremely loud and caused panic among road users,” he said. “Many drivers stopped and watched from afar until the Military and other security personnel arrived to secure and clear the road.”

Confirming the incident in a telephone conversation with News Point Nigeria, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said an Explosive Ordnance Department (EOD) team had been deployed to the scene to assess and clear the area.

The latest explosion came less than a week after a Nigerian Army Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) ran into a planted explosive device along the Keta–Danjibga road in Tsafe Local Government Area, underscoring the persistent threat of IED attacks across the state’s highways by terrorists.