Residents and students in Zaria were thrown into confusion on Tuesday when a surprising sight disrupted the usual calm along the Zaria–Katsina highway: a truck reportedly dropped several rounds of live ammunition near the bustling entrance of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU).
Eyewitnesses described scenes of shock as bullets scattered across the road, prompting pedestrians and motorists to scramble for cover.
“We were stunned. Bullets just tumbled from the truck and rolled across the highway before anyone could react,” said Musa, who witnessed the event firsthand.
The incident occurred opposite the Everyday Restaurant, Dogon Ice, Samaru, Zaria, a location typically crowded with students and traders.
Many onlookers quickly collected the ammunition and alerted nearby security personnel to prevent any potential danger.
A student who observed the event described the situation as “alarming and unusual,” expressing concern over the source of the ammunition.
“People immediately wondered if this was linked to the activities of armed groups in Kaduna and Katsina. It was unnerving,” the student said.
Meanwhile, authorities promptly responded to the alert, cordoning off the area and retrieving the rounds to ensure public safety.
Security operatives assured residents that investigations into the truck’s cargo and its route are underway.
The sudden drop of ammunition near a major university has sparked calls for stricter checks on commercial vehicles or trucks transporting sensitive materials, with locals emphasizing the potential risks such incidents pose to the community.