IED Explosion Rocks Gusau-Funtua Highway In Zamfara

An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off early Wednesday morning on the Gusau–Funtua highway in Zamfara State, damaging a cement-laden trailer and disrupting traffic in the area.

The explosion happened near Unguwar Mai Chida village as the truck was passing through.

Residents believe the explosion device was planted by suspected terrorists.

The trailer, which was travelling from Sokoto to Kaduna, suffered heavy damage to its front section.

Despite the impact, the driver survived. He was pulled out of the wreckage alive.

A local resident, Samaila, said the blast occurred only hours after security forces reopened the Kucheri-Danjibga-Keta road in Tsafe Local Government Area.

The road had been shut for over a month because of explosives planted along the route.

He explained that police and military personnel faced armed resistance during the clearance operation, leading to a gun battle that lasted several hours.

Samaila suggested the explosive that hit the truck may have been one of the devices originally planted to target security operatives.

Another witness, Lawali, a commercial driver, said he and other motorists helped rescue the injured driver, identified as Dauda Adamu.

He described the explosion as very loud, causing panic among road users.

“Many drivers stopped and watched from afar until the Military and other security personnel arrived to secure and clear the road,” Lawali stated.

The spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident in a phone conversation with Channels Television.

He said officers from the Explosive Ordnance Department had been sent to the scene.

KanyiDaily also reported how an explosive device believed to be improvised denoted at the Bayelsa Secretariat in Yenagoa.