A devastating explosion from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) has cut short the lives of four young children in Borno State. The tragic incident, which also left a 12-year-old boy seriously injured, occurred in the Banki community on Friday afternoon.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The explosion happened at approximately 12:40 pm on Friday, December 5, 2025. The location was behind the Banki Motor Park, situated in the Wajari Ward of Banki, Bama Local Government Area. According to the Borno State Police Command, the children were playing with the explosive device when it detonated.
Police spokesperson, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, confirmed the incident in an official statement. He revealed that a report was made to the police at about 1:00 pm by one Babagana Mohammed of Wajari Ward. Upon receiving the alert, the Divisional Police Officer for Banki and his team, alongside Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, swiftly moved to the scene and cordoned off the area.
Victims and Emergency Response
The sole survivor of the blast is 12-year-old Mustapha Tijja. He sustained serious injuries from fragments of the IED and was urgently transported to the FHI 360 NGO Clinic in Banki for medical treatment. Authorities report that he is currently responding to treatment.
Tragically, four other children lost their lives in the explosion. The police have released the names of the deceased victims:
- Awana Mustapha, aged 15 years.
- Malum Modu, aged 14 years.
- Lawan Ibrahim, aged 12 years.
- Modu Abacha, aged 12 years.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the children had found the IED in a nearby bush and taken it to a makeshift room behind the motor park to play with it, leading to the accidental explosion.
Police Warning and Ongoing Investigation
The Commissioner of Police for Borno State, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, psc, has expressed his profound condolences to the families affected by this heartbreaking event. He issued a strong warning to the public, particularly parents and guardians, to caution children against touching or playing with unfamiliar objects.
The police urge anyone who spots a suspicious device to immediately report it to the nearest security station and not to approach it. The command has provided emergency contact numbers: 0806 807 5581 and 0802 347 3293.
The police statement confirmed that normalcy has been restored in the area, but investigations into the incident are still ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the presence of the explosive device.
