Passenger Dies, Others Hurt as IED Hits Vehicle on Sokoto Road

A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of Sunday morning along the Kurawa–Sabon Birni road within Sokoto State's Sabon Birni Local Government Area, where a commercial vehicle reportedly struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The explosion led to the confirmed death of one passenger, while several others suffered various degrees of injuries.

The vehicle was transporting commuters from nearby communities into Sabon Birni town when it unknowingly ran over the suspected explosive device. Security analyst Bashir Altine Guyawa shared details of the incident on his Facebook page, stating that the IED was allegedly planted by individuals loyal to a notorious bandit leader.

Guyawa elaborated, "A passenger vehicle conveying commuters to Sabon Birni this morning struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) allegedly planted by loyalists of a notorious bandit leader along the Kurawa–Sabon Birni road." He further confirmed the casualties, adding, "The explosion claimed the life of one passenger, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries."

Residents who arrived at the scene described the devastation caused by the blast, noting that the vehicle was severely damaged and victims were trapped in the wreckage. An eyewitness involved in the rescue efforts recounted the immediate aftermath, saying, "We heard a loud explosion and rushed to the scene. The vehicle was badly damaged, and people were crying for help as residents tried to rescue the victims."

Those injured were quickly transported to nearby medical facilities for urgent care, while the body of the deceased was recovered from the site. This attack has intensified fears among residents of Sabon Birni and its environs, communities that have been grappling with persistent bandit assaults, which continuously endanger lives and disrupt economic activities.

As of the time this report was filed, the Sokoto State Police Command had not yet released an official statement regarding the incident. Attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, via calls and text messages, were unsuccessful. Authorities are expected to launch an investigation to uncover the circumstances behind the explosion and identify those responsible for planting the suspected IED.