Many travellers are feared dead following an explosion along the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau road in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, the police have confirmed.
The Zamfara State Police Command said the blast occurred on Friday afternoon, triggering panic among commuters and prompting an emergency security response.
Police Public Relations Officer, Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident but said details were still sketchy as operatives were responding to the scene.
“I can confirm that there was a blast in that area, but the incident just happened. I can’t give details yet. I will update you later,” Abubakar said.
Local sources told reporters that the explosion was likely caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly planted by bandits who operate in the area.
Witnesses said the blast occurred while several vehicles were travelling along the busy highway, causing commuters to flee for safety and abandon their vehicles.
Videos circulating on social media show distressed passengers running from the scene, with damaged vehicles and halted traffic visible along the road.
Residents of nearby communities said they suspected bandits were responsible, citing the long history of violent attacks, kidnappings and ambushes along the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau axis.
“This road has become very dangerous. Bandits attack regularly here, and now they are using explosives,” a resident said.
Security operatives, including police and other agencies, were said to have been deployed to secure the area and assess the situation, while efforts were ongoing to determine the number of casualties.
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks along the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau road. In December 2024, a similar explosion on the same route killed six people and injured at least eight others.
The repeated use of explosive devices marks a worrying escalation in the tactics employed by armed groups in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West, where banditry has persisted despite ongoing security operations.
Authorities are yet to release an official casualty figure as investigations continue.