Several feared dead after bomb blast involving a bus in Kwara

Several people are feared dead following a bomb explosion involving a commercial bus near Woro Village in Kaiama Local Government Area.

According to the military, the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, March 23, 2026, at about 07:43am, when a vehicle travelling from Wurumakoto Village to New Bussa in Niger State struck an improvised explosive device (IED).

The driver, identified as Mallam Zunairu, reportedly drove over the planted device unknowingly, triggering an explosion that killed him instantly and left several passengers severely injured, while others are feared dead.

The military confirmed that victims with serious injuries were evacuated to the General Hospital New Bussa for urgent treatment, though the exact number of casualties has not yet been officially confirmed. Security officials believe the explosive device was planted by armed groups operating in the area, suspected to be responsible for a similar deadly attack in the Woro axis last month.

The military said: “Joint security operatives have since been deployed to the scene,” adding that during clearance operations, another explosive device was discovered and successfully defused by specialists from a Nigerian Army base in Kaiama.

Authorities noted that despite increased security presence along the Kaiama–Woro corridor, criminal groups appear to have shifted tactics by using improvised explosive devices. The area has experienced rising insecurity in recent weeks. In February, Woro Village witnessed a large-scale attack in which scores of residents were killed and many others abducted.