Four teenagers have died in a tragic explosion caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Borno State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday, disclosing that the IED detonated behind the Banki Motor Park in Wajari Ward, where the victims were reportedly playing with the device.
Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, said the victims had allegedly picked up the device from a nearby bush before it exploded.
“Further findings indicate that the injured boy had gone with four of his friends to a makeshift room behind the motor park, where the deceased were playing with an IED allegedly picked from the bush, when it accidentally exploded,” the statement read.
The explosion, which occurred at about 12:40pm on Thursday, also left a 12-year-old boy, Mustapha Tijja, seriously injured. He is currently receiving treatment at the FHI 360 NGO clinic in Banki and is said to be responding to care.
The deceased were named as Awana Mustapha, 15; Malum Modu, 14; Lawan Ibrahim, 12; and Modu Abacha, 12.
Upon receiving the report from a local resident, Babagana Mohammed, officers from the Banki Division and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit swiftly moved to the scene, where they cordoned off the area to prevent further harm.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, has expressed condolences to the bereaved families and warned the public, especially children, to avoid handling unfamiliar or suspicious objects.
“The Commissioner of Police has strongly warned members of the public, especially children, to avoid playing with strange objects or suspected explosive devices, and to promptly report such sightings to the nearest police station,” the statement added.
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