An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) suspected to have been planted by bandits has destroyed a trailer loaded with cement along the Gusau–Funtua highway in Zamfara State.
The explosion occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at Ungwar Mai Chida when the truck, which was travelling from Kaduna to Sokoto, reportedly ran over the device placed on the road.
Eyewitnesses said the blast damaged the trailer and led to traffic congestion on the busy route linking Gusau and Funtua. No lives were lost, but the driver sustained injuries and was rescued.
A resident said the incident happened a few hours after a joint team of police and military operatives cleared and reopened the Kucheri–Danjibga–Keta road in Tsafe Local Government Area. The road had been inaccessible for over a month following earlier IED threats.
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Another eyewitness, identified as Lawali, a commercial driver, said he and other motorists helped rescue the injured driver, Dauda Adamu, from the vehicle.
He described the blast as extremely loud, causing panic among road users, many of whom parked at a safe distance until military and other security personnel arrived to secure and clear the highway.
“Many drivers stopped and watched from afar until the Military and other security personnel arrived to secure and clear the road,” Lawali stated.
Confirming the development, the Commissioner of Police in the state said combined tactical teams of the Nigeria Police Force and the military, including Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units, had earlier detected and safely detonated multiple IEDs planted along the affected axis.
Security agencies have since continued clearance operations in the area to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of commuters.