Travellers killed as bandits detonate explosives on Zamfara road
An undisclosed number of travellers were killed on Wednesday when their vehicle hit explosives planted along the Dansadau-Gusau Road in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
An anonymous source told newsmen that the explosives were planted by bandits following community work recently completed on the road.
The source, a resident of Yar Tasha village, explained, “We had just finished community work on the road when the bandits took advantage of the opportunity to plant the device at one of the spots.”
The victims were rushed to Dansadau General Hospital, but it remains unclear whether they survived. Security forces, including soldiers and police, have been deployed to the scene.
“It seems the bandits in Zamfara State have adopted a new operational strategy, particularly in the Dansadau area. This is the second time in a week they have planted explosives here, with the first occurrence on Sunday,” a local source said.
The source urged the government to take urgent action to curb this trend, warning that road travel could become increasingly dangerous for the people of the state. “Security forces and local communities must stay vigilant and monitor the situation closely. This is a horrific tactic used by the bandits, and it must be addressed immediately,” the source added.
Abdullahi Dansadau, another local resident, told journalists that a Volkswagen Golf 3 exploded after running over one of the devices, killing three people and injuring eight others.
“This morning, a Golf 3 vehicle ran over a bomb, causing an explosion. We now have six dead bodies and eight others injured. The vehicle was completely destroyed,” said Abdullahi Dansadau, a local resident.
In a statement confirming the incident, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre for the Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansar Yamma, acknowledged the reports. “We confirm the suspected bandits planted explosives along the Dansadau-Gusau Road, resulting in significant damage,” he stated. “The safety and security of our citizens are our top priority. We are working with local law enforcement to assess the situation and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
When contacted by reporters, Yazid Abubakar, Public Relations Officer of the Zamfara State Police Command, stated that he had not yet confirmed the incident. “I don’t have that information right now, but I’ll contact the DPO in the area to verify it and get back to you,” he said, adding that he could not confirm the number of casualties or the injured.
Earlier in September 2024, bandits reportedly killed eight security personnel near Tazame village in Tsafe Local Government Area. Mubarak Mohammed, a local resident, told newsmen that the security officers, consisting of five policemen and three soldiers, were assigned to protect workers from Satraco Nigeria Limited, a road construction company. The bandits ambushed and opened fire on them while they were guarding the workers repairing the Gusau-Tsafe-Zaria road.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
