Several travellers are feared dead after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated along the Magami–Dansadau/Yar’Tasha–Dansadau highway in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Saturday afternoon, December 27, 2025.
The explosion, confirmed by the Zamfara State Police Command, occurred around 2:30 pm near Maikogo and Yar-gada communities, a notorious stretch of road long plagued by bandit attacks and insecurity.
Police Public Relations Officer Yazid Abubakar acknowledged the blast but noted that details, including exact casualty figures, were still being verified as of press time. Security operatives have been deployed to the scene to secure the area, support relief efforts, and begin a formal investigation.
Eyewitnesses reported multiple explosions in different locations, triggering panic among motorists and passengers. Videos circulating on social media show commuters fleeing the scene and abandoning vehicles in fear of further detonations.
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Local authorities and residents allege that the device was planted by suspected bandits, pointing to the ongoing banditry crisis in Zamfara State. While official confirmation of the perpetrators is still pending, the attack represents a troubling escalation in tactics used against civilians along major road corridors.
According to preliminary reports from security sources and residents, at least seven people were killed, including motorcyclists and passengers, with additional casualties possibly injured and receiving medical attention.
The federal and state security agencies are expected to issue more detailed statements as investigations continue. In the meantime, travellers and residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects or activity along highways and rural routes.
This incident adds to a growing pattern of IED attacks and bandit violence in north-western Nigeria, particularly along highways connecting underserved communities, raising concerns about the safety of road travel in the region.
