IED Explosion Kills 1, Injures 7 In Zamfara

Barely 72 hours after bandits abducted 39 village elders in Zamfara State, an improvised explosive device (IED) has exploded along the Anka-Bagega Road in the State, killing one person and injuring seven others.

The explosion occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when the device detonated on a commercial Golf-3 Wagon conveying passengers from Bagega village to Anka town.

A resident of Bagega, Mallam Abdul, told journalists that the vehicle was travelling along the route when explosive device went off.

He said one passenger died instantly in the blast, while seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

“The occupants of the vehicle were travelling from Bagega to Anka when the device exploded. One passenger was killed on the spot, while seven others sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a nearby healthcare facility,” he said.

The latest incident comes less than a month after a similar explosion along the same road reportedly claimed six lives, raising fresh concerns over security in the area.

Confirming the incident, the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Muhammad Bello, said security operatives had been deployed to the scene.

According to him, the State Police Command, in collaboration with the military, has taken swift action to secure the area and restore normalcy.

“The command has deployed specialised tactical teams to the scene, working closely with the military to assess the situation, clear the hazardous road and ensure the immediate restoration of peace and normalcy along the route,” he said.

The Police Commissioner reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to combating banditry and terrorism in the state.

“The Police Command remains committed to ending banditry and terrorism in Zamfara State. No stone will be left unturned in ensuring the safety of lives and property. We appeal to members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and actionable intelligence for prompt response,” Bello added.

Our correspondent reports that security agencies were yet to determine those responsible for planting the suspected explosive device as investigations continued as at press time.