An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonates in the early hours of Wednesday along the Gusau–Funtua highway in Zamfara State, severely damaging a cement-laden trailer and causing major traffic disruption near Unguwar Mai Chida village.
According to Mediaplusng.com, local sources say the explosive device, suspected to have been planted by armed groups, goes off as the trailer travels through the area. The truck, reportedly en route from Sokoto to Kaduna, sustains extensive damage to its head section, but no fatalities are recorded.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the blast creates panic among motorists and residents, forcing drivers to halt at a safe distance as dust and debris fill the air. The driver of the trailer is rescued alive, with bystanders and fellow road users assisting before security operatives arrive at the scene.
Mediaplusng.com gathers that the explosion occurs just hours after a joint security team reopens the Kucheri–Danjibga–Keta road in Tsafe Local Government Area, which had remained inaccessible for over a month due to planted explosives.
A resident identified as Samaila explains that security operatives encounter resistance during earlier clearance operations in the area, leading to an exchange of gunfire that reportedly lasts several hours. He suggests that the device that strikes the trailer may be part of explosives previously planted to target patrol teams.
In a related account obtained by Mediaplusng.com, another eyewitness, Lawali, a commercial driver, says he and other motorists help rescue the injured driver, identified as Dauda Adamu, from the damaged vehicle. He describes the explosion as extremely loud, triggering widespread fear among road users.
“Many drivers stop and observe from a distance until the military and other security personnel arrive to secure and clear the highway,” he recounts, noting that movement along the busy route remains temporarily suspended.
The Gusau–Funtua highway serves as a critical transport corridor linking parts of Zamfara and neighboring states, making any disruption a significant concern for commuters, traders, and haulage operators.
Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest incident at the time of this report. However, the development comes amid ongoing counter-insurgency and anti-banditry operations across parts of Zamfara State.
Last Thursday, a Nigerian Army Armored Personnel Carrier reportedly runs into a planted explosive device along the Keta–Danjibga road in Tsafe Local Government Area, underscoring the persistent threat posed by improvised explosives in the region.
Residents continue to call for intensified surveillance, route scanning, and intelligence-driven operations to safeguard major highways and rural access roads from further attacks.
Security analysts note that the recurring use of IEDs highlights evolving tactics by armed groups, raising concerns about the safety of commercial transporters and travelers navigating key routes in the North-West.
As investigations into the latest explosion unfold, commuters are advised to exercise caution and remain alert while traveling through affected corridors, while authorities work to enhance road security and restore public confidence in the safety of interstate highways.
