Terrorists Destroy Key Bridge in Niger, Cut Off Communities, Kill Travellers in IED Blast

Terrorists Destroy Key Bridge in Niger, Cut Off Communities, Kill Travellers in IED Blast

By Musa Garba

Suspected bandits have blown up a strategic bridge along Luma Road, severing access between Luma, Babana and Agwara communities in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The explosion, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, has left residents stranded and disrupted movement across the affected corridor, raising fresh concerns over security in the region.

Local sources revealed that the destruction of the bridge forced the closure of the popular Babana border market, usually held on Mondays, crippling commercial activities and affecting traders from surrounding communities.

The latest incident comes amid a wave of sustained attacks in Borgu and neighbouring Agwara Local Government Areas, where armed groups have continued to target communities for several months.

In a related development, tragedy struck along the Nuku–Woro axis when a vehicle reportedly ran into an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) suspected to have been planted by terrorists. All occupants of the vehicle were said to have lost their lives in the blast.

Confirming the bridge attack, the spokesman of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said security agencies had launched operations to secure the area and prevent further incidents.

He disclosed that the command received a report of the explosion at about 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, noting that the bridge was damaged by explosive devices believed to have been planted by terrorists operating within the Park Forest.

Abiodun added that security operatives were intensifying clearance operations while maintaining surveillance to restore safety and normalcy in the affected communities.