No fewer than six persons have lost their lives following an explosion suspected to have been caused by an improvised explosive device along the Bagega-Anka Road in Zamfara State.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning when a commercial vehicle carrying passengers reportedly ran into the explosive device in the Anka Local Government Area of the state.
Sources in the area disclosed that the blast severely damaged the vehicle and caused panic among residents and commuters using the route.
Residents alleged that armed bandits operating in the area planted the device by the roadside before it detonated as the vehicle approached.
It was gathered that the explosion happened around 9am, leaving some passengers dead on the spot while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, said six persons were confirmed dead, while six injured victims were currently receiving treatment at a hospital.
The police spokesman added that security operatives had been drafted to the affected area to restore calm and ensure the safety of residents and travellers.
He noted that normal activities had since resumed along the road after the deployment of security personnel.