Eight people have been confirmed dead following an improvised explosive device (IED) attack on a passenger vehicle in Niger State on Monday, March 23, 2026, in what authorities believe is part of a coordinated act of terrorism in the area.
According to available information, the victims were traveling along a route between Nuku and Woro when their vehicle triggered the explosive device. The blast killed all seven passengers and the driver instantly.
The incident is linked to earlier reports of suspected terrorist groups deploying similar explosives to destroy a critical bridge along Luma Road in Borgu Local Government Area.
The damaged bridge serves as a key link between the Luma, Babana, and Agwara communities, and is particularly vital for traders and commuters heading to the Babana border market, which operates weekly on Mondays.
Security sources indicate that the destruction of the bridge and the roadside bombing may have been strategically targeted to disrupt movement and economic activities in the region.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said authorities received reports of the bridge explosion in the early hours of Monday.
“On March 23, 2026, at about 6:30 a.m., we received information that at approximately 2:00 a.m. the same day, suspected terrorists operating within the Park Forest area detonated an explosive device, destroying a bridge along Luma Road in Borgu LGA, connecting Luma, Babana, and Agwara communities,” he stated.
He added that the bridge sustained significant damage during the attack, noting that security agencies are currently conducting clearance and monitoring operations in the affected area.
