March 23, (THEWILL) — Eight persons have been confirmed dead following an improvised explosive device (IED) attack on a moving vehicle in Niger State, in an incident that has triggered intensified security operations in the affected area.
THEWILL gathered that the victims lost their lives on Monday when the vehicle they were travelling in detonated an IED allegedly planted by suspected terrorists along the Luma axis in Borgu Local Government Area of the state.
The explosive device was reportedly part of a coordinated attack that also targeted and destroyed a critical bridge along Luma Road, linking Luma, Babana and Agwara communities. The bridge serves as a vital route for residents and traders, particularly those accessing the Babana border market, a major commercial hub that operates weekly on Mondays.
Sources said the ill-fated vehicle, which was travelling between Nuku and Woro, stepped on the buried explosive, triggering a blast that killed all seven passengers and the driver instantly.
Confirming the development, the spokesman of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed that the attack occurred in the early hours of Monday.
“On March 23, 2026, at about 6:30 am, a report received revealed that on the same date at about 2:00 am, suspected terrorists within the park forest used an explosive device and bombed a bridge located along Luma Road, Borgu LGA, connecting Luma-Babana-Agwara communities”, he said.
Abiodun noted that the bridge was significantly damaged during the attack, adding that security operatives have since moved into the area to secure lives and property.
“It was discovered that the bridge was damaged by the hoodlums during security operations in the area. However, monitoring continues while clearance operation is intensified”, he added.
Residents in the affected communities have called for urgent government intervention, including the reconstruction of the damaged bridge and sustained deployment of security personnel to restore normalcy and economic activities in the area.
Security agencies have assured that clearance and surveillance operations will continue as efforts intensify to prevent further attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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