No fewer than seven people have been confirmed dead following an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion along the Magami–Dansadau highway in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The incident occurred on Saturday around the Yar-gada community, sparking panic among residents and travellers along the busy route.
A resident of Dansadau, Abubakar Dansadau, told Channels Television that the explosion happened in the afternoon and affected a trailer conveying passengers and farm produce, as well as several motorcyclists using the road.
According to him, five passengers in the truck and four motorcycle riders were initially killed in the blast, while one of the injured later died from sustained injuries.
Confirming the incident, the Senior Special Assistant to the Zamfara State Governor on Broadcast Media and Public Affairs, Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, said the explosion was caused by an IED allegedly planted by fleeing bandits loyal to the notorious bandit leader, Dogo Gide.
Kaura explained that troops had earlier engaged the bandits in the area and neutralised some of them, but were unaware that explosives had been planted along the route between Yar-gada and Mai-hayahaya villages.
He said seven deaths had been officially confirmed as of Saturday evening.
The spokesperson of the Joint Task Force, North-West Operation Fansan Yamma, Captain David Adewusi, also confirmed the incident, clarifying that the explosion was not caused by a foreign airstrike but by an IED planted by terrorists.
The attack comes just days after Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, visited several troubled communities along the Dansadau axis, becoming the first sitting governor to visit the area since 2011 — as part of efforts to address insecurity and reconnect with affected communities.
