A trailer transporting cement was damaged after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off early Wednesday along the Gusau–Funtua highway in Zamfara State, causing temporary traffic disruption.
The explosion occurred at Unguwar Mai Chida as the truck was traveling from Sokoto to Kaduna. Suspected bandits are believed to have planted the device, which detonated as the vehicle passed. Although the front of the trailer was badly damaged, no fatalities were recorded, and the driver was rescued alive.
Residents said the incident happened hours after security forces reopened the Kucheri–Danjibga–Keta road in Tsafe Local Government Area. The route had been closed for more than a month due to explosives allegedly planted by criminal groups.
During the clearance operation, a joint team of police and military personnel reportedly encountered resistance from armed bandits, leading to a prolonged gun battle that left the area in a state of tension. A local source suggested the IED that struck the trailer may have been part of the devices originally set to target security operatives.
The State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba, confirmed that combined tactical units of the Police and Military, including Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, identified and safely neutralized several IEDs along the affected route despite coming under attack. He said the operatives successfully repelled the assailants and restored access to the road.
According to the Commissioner, swift action by security agencies prevented further hardship for residents, as the prolonged road closure had disrupted the movement of food supplies and other essential goods. He assured that joint security patrols and additional tactical strategies would continue to ensure lasting peace in the area.
An eyewitness, Lawal Senior, a commercial driver, said he and other motorists helped pull the injured driver, Dauda Adamu, from the wrecked truck cabin. He described the blast as deafening, causing panic among drivers who quickly moved to a safe distance until military and other security personnel arrived to secure the scene and reopen the highway.
