Suspected roadside bomb kills passenger, injures several in Sokoto
A passenger was killed and several others injured on Sunday after a commercial vehicle struck a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly planted by bandits along the Kurawa–Sabon Birni road in Sokoto State.
The early morning explosion occurred as the vehicle was conveying passengers from surrounding communities to Sabon Birni, leaving the vehicle badly damaged and raising fresh concerns over the growing use of explosive devices by criminal groups in parts of the North-West.
A security analyst based in the area, Bashir Altine Guyawa, disclosed the incident in a Facebook post, describing it as another reminder of the persistent security challenges confronting communities along the border corridor.
“The vehicle was conveying passengers early this morning on their way to Sabon Birni when the unfortunate incident happened,” Guyawa wrote.
Eyewitnesses said the force of the blast scattered parts of the vehicle across the road, while survivors and passers-by rushed to rescue victims trapped in the wreckage. Residents who arrived shortly afterwards described scenes of panic as relatives searched for loved ones.
Local sources confirmed that at least one person was killed and several others sustained varying degrees of injuries, although the exact number of casualties could not be independently verified.
The Sokoto State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing the report.
