Hundreds of motorists were left stranded on Friday along the Gusau–Tsafe–Funtua road in Zamfara State following rumours that suspected bandits had planted improvised explosive devices on the busy highway.
The scare caused panic among commuters, many of whom parked their vehicles by the roadside for hours, unwilling to risk driving over possible explosives. Some drivers managed to turn back and return to their destinations.
An indigene of the area, Adamu Mohammed, said tension gripped travellers early in the morning after reports spread that explosives had been planted overnight at the same spot where a blast occurred last Wednesday.
“Motorists were left stranded for hours for fear of possible explosions, while many abandoned their journeys and went into hiding,” he said.
However, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, DSP Yazid Abubakar, clarified that the restriction on movement was a precautionary measure by security agencies.
According to him, the police directed motorists to temporarily avoid the road until it was inspected and cleared by bomb detection experts.
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“We did not come across any IED. After a thorough inspection, we asked commuters to continue their journeys,” Abubakar stated.
Although traffic later resumed and normalcy returned, residents said fear still lingered due to last Wednesday’s explosion on the same route, which left a trailer severely damaged.
The incident highlights the growing anxiety among road users in Zamfara, where security concerns continue to disrupt daily life.
