“Tragic Turn: Eight Bandits Perish in Their Own Explosive Trap”

At least eight alleged criminals have been eliminated by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) thought to have been deployed for security personnel along Lukope Road in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

A counter-terrorism and security analyst in the Lake Chad area, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this in a message on X on Saturday.

Makama indicated that the event took place at approximately 8:30 p.m. on March 20 along the Kurebe–Kushaka route, a recognized passage for armed factions operating within the forest zone.

He observed that the IED, believed to have been set up by the criminals to target approaching troops, exploded when members of the group unintentionally passed over it while riding motorcycles.

“The detonation occurred as the bandits were navigating the road, resulting in the immediate demise of about eight of them and injuring several others,” the source recounted.

As per the source, the bandits were thought to be adherents of infamous bandit leader Dogo Gide and were allegedly making their way towards the Lukope vicinity.

It was further noted that troops from Operation Fansan Yamma, Sector 1, reportedly reacted promptly to the location and escalated patrols to prevent any additional security violations.

The occurrence has, however, amplified anxiety among inhabitants of Kushaka, Kurebe, Gbato, and surrounding areas over worries of potential retaliatory strikes.

Meanwhile, stakeholders have urged relevant authorities to implement preemptive actions to reassure the population and bolster security presence in the region.