A new wave of insecurity has gripped residents of Dansadau Emirate in Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara State, as armed bandits in the region escalate their tactics by using explosives.
This alarming development follows a recent attack in which the bandits planted an explosive device along the Dansadau-Yar Galadima highway to prevent troops and local vigilantes from assisting Yar Galadima village, which was under threat.
According to local resident Bello Dansadau, the bandits had planned to attack Yar Galadima in the early hours of Sunday. Aware that local vigilantes and military personnel from Dansadau would rush to help, the criminals strategically planted an explosive on the highway.
The device detonated when a commercial vehicle inadvertently ran over it, resulting in the death of the driver and the complete destruction of the vehicle. The driver was the only person in the vehicle at the time.
“This is the first time we’ve experienced such tactics from the bandits, and it is deeply concerning,” Bello Dansadau said. “The bandits planted the bomb to stop any help from reaching Yar Galadima. We are now facing a new level of danger.”
The use of explosives marks a dangerous escalation in the bandits’ activities, increasing the already significant security concerns in the region. Local authorities and residents are now calling for heightened security measures to address this growing threat.
