An improvised explosive device (IED) detonated early Wednesday along the Gusau-Funtua highway in Zamfara, severely damaging a cement-laden truck near Unguwar Mai Chida village and causing widespread disruption to road traffic.
The truck, traveling from Sokoto to Kaduna, suffered extensive front-end damage, but the driver, Dauda Adamu, was rescued alive by other motorists. Eyewitnesses say the blast sent drivers and pedestrians scrambling for safety, highlighting the persistent threats along major highways in the region.
Residents suggest the IED may have been part of explosives previously planted to target security personnel. The attack occurred just hours after police and military teams cleared and reopened the Kucheri-Danjibga-Keta road in the Tsafe, which had been inaccessible for more than a month due to similar hazards.
“This explosion was incredibly loud, and people stopped at a distance until security forces arrived to secure the highway,” said Lawali, a commercial driver who helped evacuate the injured truck driver.
DSP Yazid Abubakar, spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, confirmed that a team from the Explosive Ordnance Department was dispatched to investigate and secure the scene.
Security analysts note that the incident underscores the ongoing vulnerability of key transport corridors in Zamfara to terrorist activities.
Just last week, a Nigerian Army Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) detonated a planted device along the Keta-Danjibga road, revealing the challenges faced by both civilians and security operatives in maintaining safe passage.
Authorities are urging travelers to exercise caution while security agencies intensify patrols and clearance operations along high-risk routes.
Terror Strikes Gusau-Funtua Highway: IED Damages Truck, Sparks Panic
