IED kills 3 police officers in Zamfara

Three police officers attached to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit of the Zamfara State Police Command were killed on Monday when their Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) allegedly planted by bandits along the Anka–Bagega road.

The incident occurred during a routine security operation targeting armed groups operating in the area.

The spokesman to Governor Dauda Lawal, Mugira Yusuf, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.

He said the officers were conducting patrols along the Anka–Bagega axis when the APC ran over the buried explosive device.

“The officers were trained EOD experts attached to the Zamfara State Police Command. Following the explosion, armed bandits reportedly emerged from nearby forests, set the damaged APC ablaze and fled,” he said.

A source told Daily Trust that the officers had earlier succeeded in locating and detonating several explosives planted by bandits before the fatal incident occurred.

“The EOD squad received intelligence that bandits had planted multiple IEDs along the route. They successfully neutralised several of them, but another device exploded when their APC passed over it. The blast destroyed the vehicle and killed the officers, including their commander,” the source said.

A relative of the deceased EOD commander described the incident as a painful loss, saying the officer died while working to protect communities from bandit attacks.

“He sacrificed his life in the fight against banditry to ensure peace and security in the state. He and his team had worked tirelessly to clear the road of explosives before the tragedy happened,” the relative said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Zamfara, DSP Yazid Abubakar, identified the deceased officers as the Officer Commanding EOD, SP Abdulrazak Musa Hassan, Inspector Auwal Ahmad and Inspector Murtala Musa.

Abubakar described the officers as dedicated professionals whose commitment and sacrifice would remain a source of inspiration to the force.

The officers had been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

Funeral prayers were led by the Chief Imam of the Zamfara State Police Command, CSP Alhassan Suleiman.

The burial was attended by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Abubakar Nakwada, heads of security agencies in Zamfara, family members and other mourners.

No safe haven for criminals – IGP

Speaking during a condolence visit to the Zamfara State Police Command Headquarters in Gusau, the IGP vowed that security forces would intensify operations against bandits and other criminal elements nationwide.

Describing the slain officers and other fallen security personnel as heroes, Disu said their sacrifices would not be in vain.

“The fight against criminal elements will be sustained with greater force. There will be no safe haven for them,” he said.

The IGP also commended the collaboration among security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the police, saying intelligence sharing and joint operations remained crucial to tackling insecurity.

He urged security personnel to remain resilient despite operational setbacks and assured them of continued government support through improved welfare, logistics and modern equipment to enhance operational effectiveness.

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