Tragedy In Zamfara: Highway Explosion Leaves Six Dead

At least six people have lost their lives and eight others sustained varying degrees of injuries after a commercial vehicle struck an explosive device along the Bagega–Anka road in Zamfara State.

According to Ireporter Online, the tragic incident occurred on Thursday when a Volkswagen Golf saloon car conveying passengers from Bagega to Anka in Anka Local Government Area triggered the explosive device planted along the roadway.

A security operative involved in the rescue effort disclosed that the victims died on the spot, while emergency responders arrived at the scene more than 20 minutes after the explosion.

The injured passengers, which included a woman, her child, and six adult males, were immediately evacuated to the Primary Healthcare Centre in Bagega, where they are currently receiving medical attention.

A resident of Bagega, who confirmed that his brother was among the injured, said the family was alerted to the incident by a soldier. He further stated that they were later informed at the hospital that the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device allegedly planted by bandits along the route. The resident, however, requested anonymity due to security concerns.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, for official confirmation were unsuccessful as calls, messages, and WhatsApp inquiries went unanswered.

The Bagega–Anka axis and surrounding communities have continued to experience recurring security challenges linked to terrorist and bandit activities in western Zamfara. While explosive incidents were previously rare in the state, recent months have seen a rise in such attacks, particularly along key highways.

Security analysts note that since late 2024, there has been an increase in improvised explosive device-related incidents in Zamfara, with several cases reported along the Tsafe–Funtua highway and parts of Anka Local Government Area, allegedly linked to armed bandit groups operating in the region.