No fewer than eight persons lost their lives on Monday after a vehicle conveying them detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) in Niger State.
The explosion occurred along Luma Road in Borgu Local Government Area, where suspected terrorists had earlier planted the device. The same group was also reported to have used a similar explosive to destroy a bridge linking Luma, Babana, and Agwara communities.
The damaged bridge serves as a key route for residents and traders, particularly those heading to the Babana border market, which holds every Monday.
Sources said the ill-fated vehicle was travelling between Nuku and Woro when it ran over the IED, triggering a blast that killed all seven passengers and the driver on the spot.
The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, noting that security operatives had launched a clearance operation in the area.
“On March 23, 2026, at about 6:30 a.m., a report indicated that earlier around 2:00 a.m., suspected terrorists operating within the Park Forest area used an explosive device to destroy a bridge along Luma Road in Borgu LGA,” he said.
He added that the bridge was significantly damaged during the attack, while security agencies have intensified monitoring and clearance operations to prevent further incidents.