In a significant security breakthrough, the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards (ZSCPG) have intercepted a commercial driver conveying a massive cache of 98 explosive devices, alongside ₦13 million in cash and other items, believed to be destined for a bandit stronghold. The operation took place on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, along the volatile Gusau–Dansadau road.
Addressing journalists in Gusau, the state capital, the Commandant of the ZSCPG, Mohammed Shehu Dalijan, confirmed the arrest of the driver, identified as Abubakar Abdullahi. The suspect was traveling in a Golf vehicle when he was stopped and searched by the community guards. The search revealed a shocking inventory: 98 explosive devices, the ₦13 million cash, three brand new motorcycles still in their boxes, as well as cartons of cigarettes and substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
According to Commandant Dalijan, the suspect confessed that he was en route to Bindin village in Maru Local Government Area, a known hub for illegal mining and banditry. "The driver, Abubakar Abdullahi, confessed that he was going to Bindin village to deliver the said items to the illegal miners, which everybody knows that most of them are either bandits or their accomplices," he stated.
He further explained the grave threat posed by the intercepted materials, noting that these are the exact types of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that have been used with devastating effect on security forces and civilians across the state. "The explosive devices are the ones the bandits use to attack security agents on the road, as it has been happening in the state on several occasions," Dalijan added.
The Commandant confirmed that the main suspect, Abubakar Abdullahi, would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution. In a follow-up operation, eight other individuals have been arrested for questioning in connection with the case.
This major interception by the ZSCPG highlights the evolving and increasingly dangerous tactics of armed groups in the Northwest, who are now employing IEDs more frequently. It also underscores the critical role played by the state's community protection forces, operating as first responders in some of the region's most insecure areas.
