Several people are feared dead following a bomb explosion involving a commercial bus near Woro Village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, authorities have confirmed.
According to Channels news report, the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, March 23, 2026, at about 7:43 am, when a commercial vehicle travelling from Wurumakoto Village in Kaiama LGA to New Bussa in neighbouring Niger State ran into an improvised explosive device.
The driver, identified as Mallam Zunairu, unknowingly drove over the planted bomb, which detonated on impact. The explosion killed the driver instantly and left several passengers severely injured, while others are feared dead.
The army revealed that victims who sustained serious injuries were evacuated to the General Hospital in New Bussa for urgent medical attention. The exact number of casualties has yet to be officially confirmed.
Security officials suspect the explosive device was planted by armed groups operating in the area, believed to be the same perpetrators behind a deadly attack in the Woro axis last month.
Joint security operatives have since been deployed to the scene. During clearance operations, another explosive device was discovered and successfully defused by specialists from the Nigerian Army base in Kaiama.
Authorities noted that despite increased security presence in the Kaiama-Woro corridor, criminal elements appear to have altered their tactics by resorting to the use of improvised explosive devices.
Woro Village and surrounding communities have witnessed heightened insecurity in recent weeks. In February, the area was the scene of a large-scale attack in which scores of residents were killed and many others abducted.
The Kwara explosion comes hours after a similar incident in neighbouring Niger State, where eight persons were feared dead after a vehicle struck an IED planted by terrorists along Luma Road in Borgu Local Government Area. The terrorists also used a device to destroy a bridge connecting Luma, Babana, and Agwara communities.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the bombing of the bridge and said clearance operations were ongoing.
