Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A dark cloud descended on the quiet town of Banki in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State on Friday as four children lost their lives in a tragic Improvised Explosive Device explosion, leaving another child severely injured and the entire community in grief. The explosion occurred shortly after noon, behind the busy Banki Motor Park in Wajari Ward, a location that has long struggled with the haunting remnants of the insurgency.
The Borno State Police Command said the tragedy unfolded around 12:40 p.m., when a group of young boys reportedly took an explosive device—believed to have been picked up earlier from the surrounding bush—to a makeshift shelter behind the motor park. Unaware of the deadly object in their possession, they began to play with it. Moments later, a deafening blast shattered the calm of the afternoon, sending residents fleeing and leaving the children sprawled in the debris.
A distressed resident, identified as Babagana Mohammed, rushed to report the incident to the police around 1:00 p.m. His alert prompted immediate action. The Divisional Police Officer in Banki mobilized officers to the scene alongside technicians from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit. Upon arrival, security personnel cordoned off the area to prevent further harm and began assessing the extent of the devastation.
Amid the chaos, one of the boys—a twelve-year-old named Mustapha Tijja—was found alive but gravely injured by shrapnel from the blast. He was quickly evacuated to the FHI 360 NGO Clinic in Banki, where medical personnel are currently fighting to stabilize him. According to the police, he is responding to treatment, offering a slight glimmer of hope in an otherwise heart-wrenching tragedy.
The four other children, all between the ages of twelve and fifteen, were not so fortunate. They succumbed instantly to the force of the explosion, their young lives abruptly cut short in a manner that has left their families shattered. Their bodies were later recovered and released to their relatives, with the community mourning deeply as burial arrangements commenced.
The Borno State Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, expressed profound sorrow as he addressed the incident. He described the deaths as a heartbreaking reminder of the lingering dangers posed by unexploded devices scattered across communities recovering from years of conflict and insurgency. He appealed to parents, community leaders, and teachers to intensify efforts in educating children about the risks of handling unusual, metallic, or abandoned objects, which may appear harmless but can be lethal.
He also urged residents to promptly report any sightings of suspicious items to law enforcement agencies, noting that swift reporting can prevent similar tragedies. The police have assured that an in-depth investigation is under way to determine the exact origin of the device—whether it was a remnant of past attacks or recently planted.
Normalcy has been restored to the area, but the emotional scars remain fresh. For residents of Banki, the incident is a painful reminder of the fragile peace they continue to navigate, and the urgent need for ongoing public sensitization to shield children from the hidden dangers that still lurk in their environment.
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