Bandits on Wednesday planted a fresh set of explosives around the Mai Lamba axis on the Dansadau-Gusau road in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara state, resulting in the deaths of several travelers.
Graphic images shared with Channels Television showed victims of the blast lying lifeless by the roadside, as bystanders stood in shock and despair.
Residents of Dansadau informed Channels Television that the explosives were placed by suspected terrorists along the road connecting Dansadau to other regions of the state.
Abdullahi Dansadau, a local resident, stated that a Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle triggered one of the bombs, causing an explosion that killed six people and injured eight others.
“It was this morning, one golf 3 vehicle stepped on the bomb and exploded, we have six dead bodies here now and eight others sustained injuries, the vehicle was destroyed completely.”
A statement sent exclusively to Channels Television by the Coordinator Joint Media Coordination Centre, Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansar Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, confirmed the incident.
“We acknowledge the reports regarding the suspected bandits planting explosives along the Dansadau-Gusau Road, which unfortunately led to some destruction.
“The safety and security of our citizens are of paramount importance. We are currently coordinating with local law enforcement to assess the situation and ensure that those responsible do not go free,” he said
He urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
“Our troops are actively on ground to prevent further incidents and ensure the safety of all commuters. Furthermore, EXPLOSIVES Ordnance Disposal team has been deployed in the area to assist in the detection and disposal of any bombs planted on the road,” he added.
The latest incident makes it the second occurrence in three days.
According to reports, fear of insecurity gripped residents of the area, following reports that armed bandits operating in the region now deploy explosives as part of their tactics.