A six-month-old baby narrowly survived an explosion on Monday after an improvised explosive device (IED), allegedly planted by bandits, detonated along a road in Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The blast killed a commercial driver instantly and left a woman—believed to be the child’s mother—seriously injured, raising fresh concerns about insecurity in the area.
According to a local resident, Dr. Abdul Woro, the device had been planted on the road and exploded as a vehicle passed over it about a kilometre from the community. He described the incident as shocking, noting that the driver died on the spot while the woman sustained severe injuries.
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Confirming the incident, the chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Abubakar Abdullahi, said it occurred shortly after 7:00 a.m. He explained that the vehicle was carrying only the driver and the woman with her infant son at the time of the explosion.
The injured woman reportedly suffered a deep head wound and fractures. She received initial treatment before being referred to Ilorin for further medical care on the governor’s directive.
Abdullahi linked the attack to recent efforts by authorities to disrupt bandits’ operations in the area, including the arrest of suspected logistics suppliers and the interception of motorcycles believed to be used by the group. He suggested the explosion may have been a retaliatory act intended to instill fear in the community.
He also revealed that a second explosive device planted at the scene was successfully detected and safely detonated by a police bomb disposal unit, preventing further casualties.
Security forces have since secured the area, and calm has reportedly returned, although authorities say they remain on high alert. Abdullahi, however, warned that local informants may be aiding the attackers and urged residents to provide useful information to security agencies.
The incident comes months after a previous wave of coordinated attacks in Woro community reportedly left around 150 people dead and many homes destroyed. In response to the worsening security situation, troops were deployed to the area, and a military operation aimed at tackling armed groups has been ongoing.
Authorities say efforts will continue to track down those responsible and restore lasting peace to the region.
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