At least 10 killed, seven injured in IED blast in northwest Nigeria
At least 10 people are understood to have been killed and seven injured after a commercial vehicle struck an improvised explosive device allegedly planted by terrorists in Zamfara state, Nigeria, police sources said Thursday 11 June.
The explosion is reported to have occurred around 18:15 on Monday 8 June when a Volkswagen Golf wagon carrying passengers from Bagega to Anka ran over the device. The blast destroyed the vehicle and left multiple casualties, with the injured taken to medical facilities.
Zamfara State police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar told Anadolu Agency that a joint security team comprising of operatives of the violent crime response unit of the state police command and civil security volunteers had been deployed to secure the route and prevent additional attacks. Investigations into the latest explosion are ongoing.
The explosive was reportedly planted by terrorists - locally referred to as bandits - who have operated in Zamfara and neighbouring states for years, carrying out kidnappings, killings and attacks on rural communities.
The Bagega–Anka road has witnessed a series of similar attacks in recent months. In May, at least six people were killed and several others injured after another commercial vehicle reportedly ran over an IED on the same route. Following that attack, security agencies conducted clearance operations and temporarily restricted movement along the road.
