2 die, 42 injured in Zamfara market explosion

Two persons have been confirmed dead in a gun powder explosion at a local market in Talata-Mafara Market, Zamfara State.

It was gathered that the explosion occurred on Tuesday afternoon, while activities at the market were at the peak, at a place where locally made guns were displayed for sale.

The explosion was confirmed by the Chairman of Talata-Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Yahaya Yari, on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

Yari disclosed that the injured victims have been referred to Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto for treatment.

He said: “When the incident happened, we immediately took emergency response which controlled the situation and took the victims to hospital.

“After receiving minor treatment at Talata-Mafara General Hospital, we took all the 44 injured victims to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto for further treatment.

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“Out of the 44 victims, two have died, the remaining 42 are currently responding to treatment.”

The council chairman added that he has announced a ban on the sale of locally made firearms in the market.

Yari stated that he had instructed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Talata-Mafara to enforce the ban with immediate effect.

The chairman said: “This is not the first time it is happening; it has happened twice before today, I have announced a ban on sales of locally made guns in the market by the local blacksmith, we cannot continue to experience this type of tragedy.

“I have instructed the DPO of Mafara to enforce the ban immediately. Anybody that wants to be selling such should be doing that from his house not at open market, risking the lives of innocent people.”

The Star