The Commissioner of Police in Zamfara State, Muhammed Dalijan, attributed Wednesday’s tragic explosion along the Dansadau-Gusau Road to the dreaded Lakurawa terror group, stating that the attackers were survivors of a recent military offensive.
The explosion, which claimed six lives and left several others injured, occurred when a commercial vehicle ran over an explosive device planted along the road in Maru Local Government Area.
Speaking on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily” on Thursday, CP Dalijan clarified that the Lakurawa group, after being dislodged by the military in Sokoto and Kebbi states, was attempting to find new hideouts when the incident occurred.
“These remnants of the Lakurawa group, after surviving the military onslaught, passed through the Birnin-Gwari forest and planted a bomb under a bridge.
Tragically, a motorist unknowingly drove over it, causing the explosion,” Dalijan said.
He noted that the planting of explosive devices marks a new strategy by the terror group, distinguishing them from local bandits in the region who lack the expertise to deploy such devices.
“Bandits in Zamfara do not use bombs because they don’t have the technical know-how to improvise explosive devices.
We are confident that the Lakurawa group is responsible, as planting bombs in the state is an unfamiliar tactic,” Dalijan added.
Eyewitness accounts from the scene painted a grim picture.
Abdullahi Dansadau, a resident, reported that the explosion destroyed a Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle, killing six passengers and injuring eight others.
“One Golf 3 vehicle stepped on the bomb and exploded.
We have six dead bodies here and eight others sustained injuries.
The vehicle was completely destroyed,” Dansadau recounted.
The Defence Headquarters, in a statement on November 21, vowed to dismantle the operational capabilities of the Lakurawa terror group.
Maj-Gen. Buba Edward, Director of Defence Media Operations, also criticised community members for failing to promptly report the group’s activities.
The Lakurawa group, a newly identified terror network, has been wreaking havoc across Sokoto and Kebbi states, according to security sources.
Efforts are ongoing to track and neutralize their operations.
