By Ghazali Ibrahim
At least six people have been killed and eight others injured after a commercial vehicle struck an improvised explosive device along the Bagega–Anka road in Zamfara State.
The explosion occurred on Thursday when a Volkswagen Golf conveying passengers from Bagega to Anka in Anka Local Government Area ran over the device, triggering a deadly blast.
A security operative involved in the rescue operation said the impact was immediate, noting that “six passengers died instantly following the explosion,” while emergency responders only arrived at the scene more than 20 minutes later.
The injured victims including a woman, her child and six men were evacuated to the Primary Healthcare Centre in Bagega for treatment.
A resident of the area, whose brother was among those injured, said the family was alerted by a soldier. “When I reached the hospital, I learnt that it was a bomb planted by bandits on the road,” the source said, requesting anonymity due to security concerns.
The Zamfara State Police Command has not issue a statement regarding the incident.
Anka and surrounding communities have long been hotspots for banditry in western Zamfara. While the use of improvised explosive devices was previously uncommon, there has been a surge in such attacks since late 2024.
Reports have linked the development to notorious bandit leader Dogo Gide, who is believed to have planted multiple explosives across parts of the state.
At least six explosion-related incidents have been recorded this year alone, particularly along the Tsafe–Funtua highway and within Anka Local Government Area.
