At least 12 people were killed on Wednesday in Nigeria’s northwest Zamfara State when a commercial bus triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) buried under a road in the troubled region. The explosion, which also left several others injured, took place in Yar Tasha village, located in the central Maru district of Zamfara.
Local sources reported that the IED had been concealed under a major road, detonating as the bus passed over it. Aliyu Yusha’u, a community leader from the area, confirmed that the blast led to the deaths of 12 passengers and injuries to others on board.
As of 7:15 p.m. local time (1812 GMT), police had not issued an official statement on the incident. Ibrahim Jauro, a local official in Maru, confirmed that the bus was en route to Dansadau when it struck the device.
The explosion marks the second attack of its kind in the region in less than a week. Just days earlier, another explosive device was triggered by a vehicle, killing the driver.
Zamfara has been grappling with an increase in violence attributed to armed criminal groups, known locally as “bandits,” who have carried out a series of deadly attacks in the area. In response to the growing insecurity, Nigerian authorities have deployed specialized military forces to the region in an effort to restore peace and stability.