Explosion: IED detonates on Zamfara highway
An Improvised Explosive Device detonated in the early hours of Wednesday along the Gusau-Funtua highway in Zamfara State, damaging a trailer and disrupting traffic.
The explosion occurred around Unguwar Mai Chida village as a cement-laden truck travelling from Sokoto to Kaduna passed through the area. The blast severely damaged the head of the vehicle but no life was lost, as the driver was rescued alive.
Local sources said the device was suspected to have been planted by terrorists. A resident, Samaila, disclosed that the incident happened just hours after a joint security team reopened the Kucheri-Danjibga-Keta road in Tsafe Local Government Area, which had been inaccessible for over a month due to planted explosives.
According to him, security operatives had earlier faced resistance during the clearance operation, resulting in an exchange of gunfire that lasted several hours. He suggested that the device that struck the truck might have been among those initially planted to target security personnel.
Another eyewitness, Lawali, a commercial driver, said motorists assisted in rescuing the injured driver, identified as Dauda Adamu, from the wreckage. “Many drivers stopped and watched from afar until the Military and other security personnel arrived to secure and clear the road,” he said, describing the blast as extremely loud and panic-inducing.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said operatives from the Explosive Ordnance Department had been deployed to the scene. He added that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the explosion.(Daily Sun)
