The Commissioner of Police, Zamfara State Police Command, Muhammed Dalijan, has revealed that some members of the dreaded Lakurawa terror group who survived a military onslaught were behind the explosion which rocked the state on Wednesday.
Six travellers were reportedly killed after a vehicle conveying them ran on explosives planted along the Dansadau-Gusau Road in the Maru Local Government Area of the state.
A source said some bandits planted the explosives after the completion of community work on the road.
The tragic incident occurred along the road when the commercial vehicle ran over the explosive device planted by bandits.
However, in an interview on Channels Televisionâs Sunrise Daily programme on Thursday, the CP noted that some members of the newly formed group were responsible for the attack.
Dalijan stated that the terrorists, after surviving a military onslaught, passed through the Birnin-Gwari forest, where they planted a bomb under a bridge before the driver unfortunately drove over it.
âThis Lakurawa (group), when they were dislodged by the Army in Sokoto and Kebbi, the rest of them who survived the military onslaught were trying to find new enclaves.
âAs they were passing that village to Birnin-Gwari forest, they planted a bomb under a bridge. Then a motorist was passing and stepped on it. It exploded and killed the driver, and three other people were seriously injured,â he said.
He stressed that the bandits in the North-West state do not know how to improvise explosive devices, hence the assurance that the terrorists were not responsible, adding that the planting of bombs has become a new strategy to unleash terror in the state.
âThey were seen passing through a village and as we were getting reports, trying to get ourselves prepared to pursue them, this (explosion) happened. So, we are sure that they were the ones who planted the bomb.
âThe bandits here (in Zamfara) donât use bombs because they donât know how to make it; they donât know how to improvise explosive devices. So, we are 100% sure that they (Lakurawa) are the ones because planting bombs in Zamfara State is a new development and bandits donât have that capacity,â he said.
A resident of the area, identified as Abdullahi Dansadau, told Channels Television that the Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle exploded after it ran over the explosives, killing six people, and leaving eight others injured.
Dansadau said, âOne Golf 3 vehicle stepped on the bomb and exploded. We have six dead bodies here now and eight others sustained injuries. The vehicle was destroyed completely.â
On Thursday, November 21, 2024, the Defence Headquarters vowed to dismantle the operational capabilities of the Lakurawa terror group.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Buba Edward revealed the existence of the group and criticised residents for failing to promptly alert security personnel.
The group, according to reports, has been wreaking havoc in Sokoto and Kebbi states.
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