One killed, seven injured in IED explosion on Zamfara road

GUSAU — One person was killed and seven others injured after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded along the Bagega–Anka road in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

A resident of the area, Aminu Bagega, told Vanguard by telephone that the incident occurred at about 6:15 p.m. on Monday when a commercial Volkswagen Golf 3 Wagon conveying passengers from Bagega to Anka ran over the explosive device.

According to him, the IED was allegedly planted by suspected bandits operating in the area.

“The passengers were travelling from Bagega village to Anka town when the device detonated, killing one person on the spot. Seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a healthcare facility in Bagega,” he said.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the explosion occurred on June 8, 2026, and resulted in one fatality and seven injuries.

Abubakar stated that security forces responded swiftly after the blast, with the command deploying specialised tactical teams to the scene in collaboration with the military.

According to him, the joint security teams were tasked with assessing the situation, securing the area, clearing the road and restoring normal movement along the route.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to combating banditry and terrorism in the state, noting that security agencies had recorded significant successes in recent operations.

The police spokesman assured residents that efforts to eliminate criminal elements would continue, adding that no stone would be left unturned in the fight against insecurity.

He also appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with credible and actionable intelligence, stressing that community cooperation remains vital to ongoing security operations.

The latest incident comes about a month after a similar IED explosion along the same Bagega–Anka route reportedly killed six people and left six others injured, raising fresh concerns over the security situation in the area.