Over 50 Injured in Zamfara Market Gunpowder Explosion

Over 50 people suffered varying degrees of injuries following a gunpowder explosion at a market in Talata-Mafara town, Zamfara State.

The incident took place on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 18, 2025, when a locally made gun accidentally discharged, igniting a powdered substance being sold to local gun owners.

“The incident occurred in the afternoon when the activities of the market were going on,” an indigene of Talata-Mafara town, Aminu Mohammed, said.

“One of the vigilante group members came to buy the powdered material for his gun and suddenly his gun exploded and hit the substance. As a result, the whole area went ablaze.

“More than 50 persons have been seriously injured due to the explosion while several others also sustained injuries as they struggled to escape out of the market,” he said.

The victims were transferred to the Usman Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital Sokoto for medical treatment.

A medical worker at the General Hospital Talata-Mafara, who pleaded anonymity, said the victims were brought to the hospital for treatment but were transferred to the Usman Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital Sokoto.

“The patients have to be evacuated to Sokoto because they could not be treated here at the General Hospital Talata-Mafara due to lack of facilities,” the source said.