A series of suspected improvised explosive device (IED) blasts along the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau/Magami road in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State has left multiple commuters dead and others injured, according to preliminary reports from security authorities and eyewitnesses.
The explosions occurred on the afternoon of Saturday, December 27, 2025, triggering panic among travellers and residents along the busy highway — a corridor frequently targeted by criminal groups.
Early accounts from security sources and local media indicate that between seven and nine people have been killed in the blasts, although official figures remain preliminary and unverified as investigations continue.
Below is panicky road users (some lamenting in Hausa language) as they watched the explosion and terrorists from afar
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported:
• At least four motorcyclists killed in one blast,
• Five occupants of a commercial trailer also killed,
• In one account, a woman reportedly died after falling from a vehicle amid the chaos that followed the explosions.
Injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, and at least one person later died from injuries sustained in the blast.
The Nigeria Police Force – Zamfara Command has confirmed that an explosion took place in the area, but said it is still assessing the situation and gathering facts.
“Our operatives are on ground securing the scene and conducting investigations. Details are still sketchy, and we will provide updates as they become available,” said the Police Public Relations Officer for the state.
Joint security operatives, including units from Operation Fansan Yamma, have been deployed to the scene to secure the area, prevent further attacks, and begin forensic assessments.
Early indications suggest the blasts were the result of IEDs planted along the highway, rather than accidental detonations. Sources within security circles told reporters that the devices may have been placed deliberately to target travellers — a tactic increasingly used by criminal elements in the region.
While no group has claimed responsibility, local speculation points to bandit and terrorists groups known to operate in the area, particularly those linked with long-standing insecurity in Zamfara State. Officials, however, have not confirmed any specific perpetrators.
Videos circulating on social media captured harrowing scenes of panicked passengers fleeing vehicles and attempts by locals to assist the injured. Commuters described a sudden, loud blast followed by widespread confusion.
“I was on my way when I heard a loud explosion. People were running in all directions. It was terrifying,” one survivor recounted.
Residents and social media users expressed shock and grief at the attack. Many called on security agencies to intensify patrols and protect travellers, particularly on highways that have become hotspots for ambushes and other violent incidents.
“One more tragic attack on innocent travellers,” wrote one user on social media, urging a swift and robust response from authorities.
Authorities have stressed that casualty figures remain unconfirmed and subject to change as they continue to assess the scene and gather information from witnesses and survivors.
The explosion underscores the persistent security challenges facing northwest Nigeria, where highway attacks and the use of explosive devices have increasingly been used to terrorize civilians and destabilize communities.
Officials are expected to release a detailed report as investigations progress. Meanwhile, security forces have stepped up patrols and checkpoints across vulnerable routes in Zamfara and neighbouring states.
