Suspected bandits' bomb kills one and injures several in Sokoto

By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

SOKOTO — A passenger vehicle allegedly hit an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by suspected bandits on the Kurawa–Sabon Birni road in Sokoto State, leaving one person feared dead and several others with varying injuries.

The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday, heightening concerns about the increasing use of explosive devices by criminal groups in the North-West.

Local sources say the vehicle was transporting passengers from nearby communities to Sabon Birni when it struck the explosive device, causing a blast that heavily damaged the vehicle and injured several occupants.

Security analyst Bashir Altine Guyawa posted about the incident on Facebook, calling it another reminder of the persistent security challenges faced by communities along the border axis.

Guyawa said the vehicle was on a routine passenger trip when the explosion happened.

“The vehicle was conveying passengers early this morning on their way to Sabon Birni when the unfortunate incident happened,” he wrote.

Eyewitnesses reported that the blast scattered parts of the vehicle across the road, and survivors and passers-by rushed to rescue victims trapped in the wreckage.

Residents who reached the scene soon after the blast described an atmosphere of panic and grief as relatives searched for loved ones.

Local sources confirmed that at least one person was killed and several others were injured, but the exact number of casualties could not be independently verified at the time of this report.

The incident has heightened fears among residents of Sabon Birni and neighboring communities, many of whom rely on the road for transportation, trade, and access to essential services.

Security experts warn that criminal groups displaced by ongoing military operations are increasingly using unconventional tactics, such as improvised explosive devices, to instill fear and disrupt movement in vulnerable communities.

Community leaders have urged security agencies to intensify surveillance and clearance operations along major rural roads to prevent further attacks and reassure residents.

The latest explosion underscores the ongoing security challenges in the North-West, where many communities continue to be affected by banditry, displacement, and violence.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Sokoto State Police Command were