The African Democratic Congress has condemned President Bola Tinubu's departure for Europe and the UAE following a deadly bomb explosion in Zamfara State that left many feared dead. The opposition party described the timing as a sign of lacking empathy amid rising insecurity. Police confirmed the blast on a major road, attributing it to bandits.
On Saturday afternoon, an explosion rocked the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau Road in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nigeria, caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by bandits. The Zamfara State Police Command confirmed the incident, with Public Relations Officer Yazid Abubakar stating, “I can confirm that there was a blast in that area, but the incident just happened. I can’t tell you details yet. I will update you later.” Many travellers were feared killed, and videos circulating on social media showed people fleeing in panic with vehicles abandoned along the highway.
This attack marks the latest in a series of violence on the road, following a similar explosion in December 2024 that killed six people and injured eight others. The area has a history of banditry and violent incidents, heightening fears among residents.
Amid this tragedy, President Bola Tinubu departed Lagos on Sunday, December 28, 2025, for Europe as part of his end-of-year break, ahead of an official visit to Abu Dhabi. The trip includes participation in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026 Summit, invited by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The summit's theme is ‘The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go’, focusing on sustainable development. The presidency stated the president would return after the event.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) sharply criticized the president's absence and silence. National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi tweeted, “In the wake of yet another deadly bomb blast in Zamfara, to which the President has not said a single word; on the back of an unprecedented foreign military attack on Nigerian soil; right in the middle of all the uncertainty it has provoked; with a confused and scared nation waiting for the President to speak to us and assure us that all is well, the next thing we hear is that the President has gone on holiday. What a President!”
Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas also condemned the explosion as cowardly, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region.
