Tragedy struck on Sunday evening in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated, killing one child and injuring six others.
The unfortunate incident happened around 5:00 pm when a group of children unknowingly brought home a hidden explosive device they had discovered while playing. The bomb exploded shortly after, leading to the death of one of the children and leaving six others with serious injuries.
The spokesman of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday. He said the injured children were immediately evacuated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for treatment.
“We were informed that the children dug out the IED and took it home. Unfortunately, it detonated, killing one and injuring six others,” ASP Daso said. “We promptly evacuated the injured victims to the hospital where they are receiving medical attention.”
This is not the first time such an incident is happening in Borno. Over the years, several communities have suffered from leftover explosives from past conflicts with insurgents, especially Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, who have operated in the region for more than a decade.
ASP Daso pointed out that despite a state-wide ban on scrap metal collection, many children and youths continue to scavenge in abandoned areas where explosives may still be hidden.
“These incidents have been recurring in Konduga, Dikwa, Monguno, and Jere,” he said. “We are concerned about the safety of our communities and will continue to educate the public on the dangers of picking up strange or metallic objects.”
The police also warned parents to monitor their children closely and discourage them from going into abandoned areas, farmlands, or bush paths where such dangers may exist.
In a separate but related incident, the Borno State Police Command confirmed the recovery of an unexploded bomb on a farmland in Dikwa Local Government Area. The bomb, which was buried beneath the soil, was discovered after a local farmer, Babagana Kachalla, noticed a suspicious object while working on his land.
The farmer immediately alerted the authorities. In response, the police deployed an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team to the location.
“The object was identified as a 2.2-meter-long Cluster Bomb Unit (CBU),” ASP Daso revealed. “It was safely removed and neutralized by our EOD experts. We commend the farmer for reporting the object instead of tampering with it.”
Cluster bombs are extremely dangerous, often scattering multiple smaller explosives over a wide area, making them particularly hazardous in farming and residential zones.
Borno State has been at the center of Nigeria’s fight against insurgency since 2009, when Boko Haram began its violent campaign against the state. In the years that followed, the group seized control of several territories in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states, planting bombs, setting up mines, and booby-trapping farmlands and roadways.
Even as the military regains control of many areas, remnants of explosives left behind during past clashes continue to pose a serious risk to civilians, especially children, farmers, and scavengers.
In recent years, the Borno State Government, along with security agencies and international partners, has tried to clear explosives from public areas. However, many dangerous devices still remain buried or hidden across the state.
In response to the recent incidents, the police say they are intensifying community sensitization programs. These include campaigns in schools, mosques, markets, and radio broadcasts aimed at educating the public about the dangers of unexploded ordnance and IEDs.
“We are strengthening our outreach programs. People need to know how to identify suspicious objects and who to call. We must work together to prevent further loss of innocent lives,” ASP Daso said.
Local authorities have also urged residents to cooperate with security agencies and to immediately report any unfamiliar items found in their communities.
While the security situation in Borno has improved in some areas, these latest incidents serve as a painful reminder that the threat from leftover explosives is still very real.
Families, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas, remain at high risk. Authorities are calling for increased support from both government and humanitarian agencies to step up mine clearance operations and provide safety training for vulnerable groups, particularly children.
