GUSAU, Zamfara State — Three police officers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit were killed on Monday evening after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by terrorists detonated along the Anka-Bagega highway in Zamfara State, authorities have confirmed.
The Zamfara State Police Command identified the deceased officers as CSP Abdulrazak Musa Hassan, the Officer-in-Charge of the EOD Unit in Gusau, Inspector Auwal Ahmad, and Inspector Murtala Musa. All three were trained explosives specialists attached to the Zamfara State Police Command.
According to police sources, the officers were responding to a bomb alert following actionable intelligence indicating that suspected bandits had planted an explosive device along the Anka-Bagega road, a route that has become notorious for repeated attacks linked to growing bandit activities in the state. The IED detonated unexpectedly while the officers were attempting to neutralise the threat, killing them instantly.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, described the deaths as a moment of profound sorrow for the Force and the nation. “It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that we mourn the tragic loss of our gallant officers… who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty while serving and protecting our nation,” the statement read.
The Command commended the fallen officers for their courage, dedication, and unwavering commitment to duty, noting that they died while carrying out the dangerous but critical responsibility of protecting lives and ensuring public safety.
According to Mugira Yusuf, media aide to Governor Dauda Lawal, the officers were on a routine patrol targeting armed groups when one of the police unit’s armoured personnel carriers ran over the buried IED. Following the explosion, bandits reportedly emerged from the surrounding forest and set the damaged armoured vehicle ablaze before retreating into the bush.
The use of buried explosives in Zamfara roads marks a tactical shift in Nigeria’s northwestern security crisis. Historically, armed groups operating in Zamfara relied primarily on guerrilla tactics, including mass kidnappings, cattle rustling, and sudden village raids using small arms. However, counter-terrorism analysts and residents report that these criminal syndicates are increasingly adopting battlefield tactics traditionally used by insurgent groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP in the Northeast.
The Zamfara State Government has expressed grief over the incident. The Secretary to the State Government, Malam Abubakar Nakwada, led a high-powered state government delegation to the funeral prayers for the deceased. The prayers were led by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, at the Police Command Headquarters, Gusau, in accordance with Islamic rites.
Nakwada conveyed the heartfelt condolences of the government and people of the state to the Inspector-General of Police, the Zamfara Police Command, the bereaved families, and the entire police community. He reiterated the government’s resolve to continue working with security agencies to rid the state of banditry and all other forms of criminality. “This tragic incident will not make us relent; it only emboldens us. We will intensify our efforts, and victory is assured, In-Sha-Allah,” he stated.
