IED kills driver in Kwara, terrorists bomb bridge in Niger

A commercial driver was killed and a woman critically injured after an improvised explosive device (IED), planted by bandits, exploded on a road in Woro community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on Monday. A six-month-old baby survived the explosion. In neighbouring Niger State, terrorists on the same day bombed a bridge on Luma […]

A commercial driver was killed and a woman critically injured after an improvised explosive device (IED), planted by bandits, exploded on a road in Woro community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on Monday.

A six-month-old baby survived the explosion.

In neighbouring Niger State, terrorists on the same day bombed a bridge on Luma Road in Borgu Local Government Area in an apparent attempt to disrupt troop movements in ongoing counter-insurgency operations.

Sources said the Niger incident occurred at about 2am and affected a key bridge linking Luma, Babana and Agwara communities—areas that have suffered repeated attacks in recent times.

The latest attack in Kwara comes months after more than 150 residents were killed in coordinated assaults on the Woro community, during which several homes were razed.

A resident, Dr Abdul Woro, stated that the latest blast occurred approximately one kilometre from the town.

“They planted the explosive on the road. As soon as the vehicle passed, it detonated. The driver died instantly, and the woman was badly injured,” he said.

The Chairman of Kaiama LGA, Hon. Abubakar Abdullahi, confirmed that the incident occurred shortly after 7am. He said the vehicle had only two occupants—the driver and a woman carrying her six-month-old baby.

Abdullahi linked the attack to recent crackdowns on bandits’ logistics networks in the area.

He disclosed that two IEDs were planted at the scene, but one was successfully neutralised by the police bomb disposal unit.

According to him, security has been reinforced in the area, with personnel—including soldiers, police and forest guards—deployed across Woro and other vulnerable communities.

He, however, raised concerns over local collaborators aiding the attackers.

Sources described the use of landmines around the Kainji Dam axis as a new tactic, suggesting an attempt by terrorists to make the area unsafe and force residents to flee.

The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the incident.

He, however, debunked earlier reports that scores of people died in the incident.

Ojo said that the incident involved a driver of a commercial Toyota vehicle and a female passenger, a nursing mother with her young baby.

He said that the driver died on the spot after stepping on the IED, adding that the woman sustained serious injury.

He, however, said that the baby was unscathed.

The police chief said that the security situation in the area has been brought under control.

Commercial activities disrupted in Niger

In Niger State, residents said the destruction of the Luma Road bridge has disrupted activities at the Babana border market, as traders were unable to access the area.

The spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack, attributing it to suspected terrorists operating from the Kainji National Park.

He said the bridge was damaged by an IED in what appeared to be an attempt to undermine security operations, adding that monitoring and clearance operations have been intensified.

Meanwhile, at least seven terrorists were reportedly killed last week when some of the landmines they planted in the Audu-Fari community in Borgu LGA accidentally detonated.

Sources said several others were injured, with one claiming that some of the wounded fighters are receiving treatment at a government hospital in the state.