Nigeria, June 14 -- The police have destroyed an improvised explosive device (IED) suspected to have been planted by bandits on a major route in Zamfara State.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the police public relations officer, Yazid Abubakar, said the IED was uncovered in the Kunchin Kalgo axis of Tsafe LGA, acting on intelligence provided by the local community.

Mr Abubakar added that operatives of the Command's Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU), working with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit, successfully unearthed the device at about 4:15 p.m., preventing what could have resulted in mass casualties.

"Operatives of the Command's Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU), in collaboration with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal...