Several people are feared dead following a suspected bomb explosion on a busy road in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Zamfara.
The blast occurred on the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau road in the Maru Local Government Area, a region that has long struggled with violent crime and insecurity.
A spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police, Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident to local media on Saturday but stated that the exact number of casualties remains unclear.
“I can confirm that there was a blast in that area, but the incident has only just happened,” Mr Abubakar told the Daily Post. “I cannot give you details yet.”
Panic on the road
Footage circulating on social media, which has not been independently verified, appears to show the aftermath of the explosion, with travellers fleeing the scene in panic.
Local reports suggest the blast may have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by “bandits”—a local term for the armed gangs that frequently carry out kidnappings and killings across northwest Nigeria.
Nuhu Sada, a local politician, described the event as a “tragic attack on innocent travelers” and called on security agencies to act quickly to secure the route.
Context of insecurity
Northwestern Nigeria has been plagued by a cycle of violence involving cattle rustling, kidnappings for ransom, and targeted attacks on rural communities.
While the Nigerian military has conducted several operations in the region, including airstrikes against militant hideouts, the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau road remains a high-risk route for civilians.
The federal government recently announced the graduation of 7,000 forest guards in an effort to bolster security in remote areas, but this latest incident highlights the persistent threat faced by residents in the north.
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