Olayomi Koiki
An explosive planted by terrorists – locally dubbed as bandits in Nigeria – has blown off a bridge in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing one person.
The terrorists planted the explosive during their mission to attack Unguwar Galadima community in the local government area, local news outlet PREMIUM TIMES reported, citing residents.
Several armed bandits were reportedly killed on Sunday while attempting to raid Unguwar Galadima.
Residents said the bandits went to the community on a mission to avenge the death of their leader, Sani Black, who was killed by local vigilantes in September.
Mr Black was one of the pioneers of terrorism in Zamfara and a protege of the late Tsoho Buhari. He was also a close ally of the late Halilu Sububu, who was also killed in an ambush on 13 September, according to the news outlet.
According to local sources, bandits loyal to Mr Black carried out the failed attack on Unguwar Galadima. They, however, suffered casualties, abandoned several weapons, and fled.
But unknown to the residents, the bandits planted an explosive beside a bridge linking Unguwar Galadima to Dansadau town before launching their attack.
They had planted the material to check military movement to the town to repel the attack.
A resident, Haruna Isyaku, told the news outlet: “There are soldiers stationed at Dansadau town; they can easily move to Unguwar Galadima, which is about two kilometres away, to repel the attack, so the bandits planted the bomb for the soldiers.
“But nobody passed through the route until a lone unidentified driver did, and his vehicle got burnt beyond recognition.”
Mr Isyaku said there is fear in Dansadau and surrounding areas over the bandits’ use of an explosive.
Police and military could not be reached for comments.
Insecurity and violence in Nigeria
For more than a decade, civilians in Nigeria have faced multiple security threats and risk of atrocities as result of attacks, kidnappings and extortion by various non-state armed groups.
Since the start of 2024 civilians have faced intensified violence across Nigeria, and near-daily attacks by armed groups resulting in kidnappings and other abuses against civilians.
Armed groups and gangs, including so-called “bandits,” have – for many years – perpetrated widespread atrocities, including murder, rape, kidnapping, organized cattle-rustling and plunder. Armed herdsmen are also destroying vast swaths of farmland, prompting many farmers to abandon their land out of fear of attack.
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