Zamfara State’s Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Dalijan, has confirmed that members of the Lakurawa terror group were responsible for the deadly explosion on the Dansadau-Gusau Road in the Maru Local Government Area on Wednesday. The explosion, which killed six travelers, was a result of explosives planted by the terrorists, not by the typical bandits operating in the area.
Dalijan explained that the Lakurawa group, which had been dislodged by the military in Sokoto and Kebbi, was attempting to establish new hideouts in the region. He stated that after passing through a village near Birnin-Gwari forest, the terrorists planted a bomb under a bridge. A vehicle later ran over the device, causing the explosion that killed the driver and injured several others.
The police chief emphasized that the bandits in the region lack the knowledge to manufacture explosive devices, which led authorities to confidently identify the perpetrators as the Lakurawa group. This marks a troubling shift in tactics, as bombings have not previously been associated with the bandits in Zamfara.
In response to the growing threat, the Defence Headquarters vowed to dismantle the operational capabilities of the Lakurawa group. The group has been causing havoc in neighboring Sokoto and Kebbi states, and authorities are now focusing on disrupting their activities across the region.