A tragic explosion suspected to have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by armed bandits has claimed the life of one person and left several others injured along the Kurawa–Sabon Birni Road in Sokoto State.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Sunday when a commercial passenger vehicle travelling through the area struck the suspected roadside bomb. The blast destroyed parts of the vehicle, killing one passenger on the spot and leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries.
According to local sources, the injured victims were rescued by residents and emergency responders before being taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Security sources believe the explosive device may have been planted by suspected bandits operating within the Sabon Birni axis, an area that has witnessed repeated attacks by armed criminal groups in recent years. Authorities have yet to officially identify those responsible, but investigations are ongoing.
Residents of the affected communities have called on the Federal Government and security agencies to strengthen surveillance and intensify operations along major roads in the area to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of commuters.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not released an official statement on the incident, while efforts to clear the affected road and investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion were still underway.
