The grim reality of insecurity in Sokoto State intensified today as authorities confirmed that the death toll from a recent explosion in Gwabro village, Tangaza Local Government Area, has risen to eight.
This tragic update follows the succumbing of two more women to their injuries sustained during the blast, which occurred amidst the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
The explosion, caused by a locally made improvised explosive device (IED), initially claimed six lives and injured several others, casting a dark shadow over the festive season.
The incident has reignited serious concerns about the region’s persistent insecurity and the pervasive threat of armed groups.
Garzali Raka, Security Adviser to the Tangaza Council, confirmed the updated death toll.
He revealed the unsettling detail that Gwabro village has been under bandit control for the past five years.
Raka also pointed out that the blast site, Dorawa, is alarmingly close to Lakurawa camp, an area widely recognized as a stronghold for armed bandits.
He further disclosed that unexploded devices had previously been discovered in the vicinity, with some fortunately neutralized by heat before they could detonate.
The Sokoto State Police Command also corroborated the incident. According to police spokesperson ASP Ahmed Rufai, the IED detonated as victims were traveling from Gwabro to Zurmuku.
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The device exploded near a security post under a tree, close to Zurmuku, another community grappling with the scourge of banditry.
An eyewitness, identified as Hashimu, recounted the horrifying event, stating that the explosion occurred on Sunday afternoon during the Sallah celebrations.
He explained that it is a customary practice for youths to travel between villages to visit relatives and offer Sallah greetings during this period, and it was during one of these innocent trips that they encountered the deadly blast.
Community sources have further reported that the Lakurawa-based terrorists have a long history of terrorizing villages in Tangaza and the neighboring Gudu Local Government Area.
These distressed communities are now urgently appealing to the government to take decisive action against the armed groups that continue to destabilize the region.
In the harrowing aftermath of this tragedy, residents and local officials have renewed their fervent calls for strengthened security measures to prevent future attacks and ultimately restore lasting peace to the beleaguered communities.