Three police officers, including a senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal commander, were killed on Monday after an improvised explosive device suspected to have been planted by armed bandits detonated along the Anka–Bagega Road in Zamfara State.
The fatal incident occurred at about 5:05 p.m. on June 15, 2026, during a clearance operation aimed at detecting and neutralising explosives reportedly laid on the route by bandits terrorising communities in the area.
Security sources said the team, drawn from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit and the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU), had been deployed to sweep the road in Anka Local Government Area when the armoured vehicle they were travelling in triggered the device.
The EOD team, led by Superintendent of Police Abdulrazak Musa Hassan, had reportedly arrived earlier at the Anka Division before proceeding on the operation in a CSK armoured personnel carrier.
However, while conducting a systematic sweep of the Anka–Bagega axis, the armoured vehicle reportedly ran over a planted IED/landmine, which exploded instantly, killing three officers on the spot.
Those confirmed dead include SP Abdulrazak Musa Hassan, the EOD commander; Inspector Murtala Musa of the VCRU; and Inspector Auwal Ahmad, also attached to the EOD unit.
The remains of the deceased officers were said to be awaiting evacuation to the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, located in Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, where post-mortem examinations are expected to be conducted.
The Anka–Bagega corridor has remained one of the most dangerous flashpoints in Zamfara, with recurring incidents of banditry, ambushes, and roadside explosive devices targeting both security operatives and civilians.
A police signal obtained on the incident described the explosion as occurring during a routine clearance mission, noting that the armoured vehicle struck the device while the team was attempting to secure the road for safe passage.
Security authorities are yet to issue an official public statement on the incident as of press time, but the attack is expected to further heighten concerns over the increasing use of improvised explosive devices by armed groups operating in the North-West.
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