By Sar Terver
Barely four days after the controversial United States airstrike that reportedly targeted terrorist elements in Sokoto State, fears are rising in Nigeria’s North-West as an explosion ripped through a major highway in Zamfara State, killing several road users and deepening anxieties over possible reprisals by extremist groups.
The blast, which occurred on Friday, December 27, 2025, along the Magami–Dansadau Road in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, has renewed public discussions about the the security implications of foreign military involvement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
The incident comes amid earlier threats by Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who had cautioned that violence could escalate if the United States continued to carry out airstrikes on Nigerian soil.
Following the reported American airstrike in Sokoto, Sheikh Gumi had publicly expressed fears with threats that such actions could provoke retaliation from armed groups, warning that killings and attacks might increase rather than abate.
His comments, widely circulated at the time, are now being revisited by many residents who see the Zamfara explosion as a possible manifestation of those fears or threats.
A resident of Zamfara State, who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, said the bomb might have been planted by terrorists reacting to the recent airstrike in Sokoto.
When asked whether the explosion could have been another airstrike similar to the one reportedly carried out by the United States in Sokoto, the resident dismissed the idea. “No, this one is not America. It’s either bandits or Boko Haram”, he maintained.
Social media speculation has further fueled public anxiety. In a viral video posted on Facebook, Ebuka Exclusive Media alleged that the bomb was planted by “Islamic jihadists,” a claim that has since circulated widely online, though without independent verification.
Amid the growing speculation, the Zamfara State Police Command has officially confirmed the incident and provided details of what transpired.
According to the police, the explosion occurred at about 2:30 p.m. at Maikogo Village along the Magami–Dansadau Road.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, and made available to journalists in Gusau, the state capital, the command said it received information from the Officer-in-Charge of the Magami outstation indicating that an object suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), allegedly planted by unknown persons, exploded at the location.
The police statement said the explosion blew off a trailer, rendering it beyond recognition, and claimed the lives of some persons, including motorcycle riders who were in the vicinity at the time of the incident.
According to DSP Abubakar, details regarding the exact number of casualties were still sketchy as of press time.
He noted that security operatives had been deployed to the scene, while efforts were ongoing to ascertain the total number of casualties, secure the area, and prevent further harm.
“The Command has commenced preliminary investigations into the incident,” the statement added, noting that relevant units, including explosive experts, were on ground to assess the situation.
The police also appealed to members of the public to remain calm and vigilant, urging them to promptly report any suspicious objects or movements to the nearest police station.
For many residents in Zamfara and neighbouring states, the incident has revived painful memories of years of banditry, insurgency, and roadside attacks that have turned highways into zones of fear.
Commercial drivers and travelers who rely on the Magami–Dansadau axis described the road as critical to local commerce, now shadowed by renewed insecurity.
As investigations continue, questions remain about whether the explosion is directly linked to extremist reprisals following the Sokoto airstrike or part of the pattern of violence that has plagued the North-West.
What is clear, however, is that the incident has intensified public concern that Nigeria’s fragile security situation could worsen if militant groups choose to respond violently to external military actions without prompt and sustained intervention by the US government.
With authorities racing to piece together the facts, residents can only hope that the blast does not mark the beginning of a new wave of coordinated attacks on highways already notorious for danger.
