An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded in the early hours of Wednesday along the Gusau–Funtua highway in Zamfara State.
The blast damaged a trailer loaded with cement near Unguwar Mai Chida village, leading to heavy traffic disruption in the area. Local sources said the device, suspected to have been planted by terrorists, detonated as the truck was passing through the road.
The vehicle, which was travelling from Sokoto to Kaduna, sustained serious damage to its front section. However, no life was lost, as the driver was rescued alive.
A resident identified as Samaila explained that the explosion occurred only a few hours after a joint team of police and military personnel cleared and reopened the Kucheri–Danjibga–Keta road in Tsafe Local Government Area. The road had reportedly remained closed for over a month due to planted explosive devices.
According to him, security operatives had earlier faced resistance during the clearance exercise, leading to an exchange of gunfire that lasted for several hours. He suggested that the IED which struck the truck might have been among the explosives initially planted to target security personnel.
Another eyewitness, Lawali, a commercial driver, said he and other motorists helped rescue the injured driver, identified as Dauda Adamu, from the damaged truck. He described the explosion as very loud and frightening, causing panic among road users. Many drivers reportedly parked at a safe distance until military and other security operatives arrived to secure and clear the highway.
“Many drivers stopped and watched from afar until the Military and other security personnel arrived to secure and clear the road,” Lawali stated.
Confirming the incident in a telephone conversation with Channels Television, the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, said a team from the Explosive Ordnance Department had been deployed to the scene.
Meanwhile, last Thursday, a Nigerian Army Armoured Personnel Carrier reportedly struck a planted explosive device along the Keta–Danjibga road in Tsafe Local Government Area.
