WorldStage– At least one person has been confirmed dead after a commercial vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) in the early hours of Monday, March 23, 2026, near Woro village in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State in the north central region of Nigeria.
The area is still recovering from a deadly massacre in February 2026 where over 160 people were killed by suspected extremist militants.
The explosion which occurred at approximately 07:43 a.m on a road about one kilometre from Woro village instantly claimed the life of driver of the vehicle, identified as Mallam Zunairu upon impact.
According to Kwara State Police spokesperson Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, at least one woman sustained serious injuries, including a deep head wound and fractures while a six-month-old baby boy traveling with the woman escaped the blast unhurt.
The vehicle was a commercial bus traveling from Wurumakoto village toward New Bussa in neighbouring Niger State.
Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed that an investigation has been launched. The injured were evacuated to the General Hospital in New Bussa for urgent medical attention.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility, authorities suspect the device was planted by Boko Haram or other Islamist insurgent groups expanding into the North-Central region.
The incident has caused renewed panic among residents, with local leaders expressing fear that more people may flee the community due to the escalating insecurity.
