No fewer than eight persons have been confirmed dead after suspected terrorists detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) on a strategic bridge in Niger State, disrupting movement across several communities and raising fresh security concerns in the area.

9News Nigeria gathered that the explosion occurred in the early hours of Monday along the Luma axis in Borgu Local Government Area, where the attackers reportedly targeted a key bridge linking Luma, Babana and Agwara communities. The damaged structure serves as a vital access route, particularly for traders travelling to the Babana border market, which holds weekly on Mondays.

Local sources told 9News Nigeria that the explosive device was planted overnight before a vehicle conveying passengers travelling between Nuku and Woro unknowingly ran over it. The resulting blast killed all eight occupants of the vehicle instantly, including the driver.

Residents described the bridge as economically critical to cross-border trade and daily transportation within the affected corridor, warning that its destruction could significantly disrupt commercial activities in the region.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said security operatives had already launched clearance and monitoring operations around the affected location.

According to him, police authorities received a report at about 6:30 a.m. on March 23 indicating that suspected terrorists operating within the nearby forested area carried out the attack around 2:00 a.m., using explosives to damage the bridge along the Luma road axis.

He added that security forces were intensifying surveillance and operational activities in the area to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of residents.

The latest incident underscores growing concerns over the use of IEDs by armed groups targeting transportation infrastructure in parts of Nigeria’s North-Central region, particularly routes that serve rural economies and border markets. Authorities have yet to confirm whether any arrests have been made as investigations continue.