Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja — A female soldier and two children were seriously injured in an accidental grenade explosion at Maraba, Abacha Road in Nasarawa State on 24 December 2025, authorities and eyewitnesses have confirmed.
According to an incident report obtained by news outlets, the explosion occurred shortly before noon on Wednesday when a hand grenade — believed to have been stored in an apartment for several years — was brought out by a resident during cleaning and handed to the soldier to determine whether it was live or safe to dispose of.
The device detonated immediately while being handled, severely injuring the woman — identified only as Mohammed — including serious wounds to her left wrist and other parts of her body. Two children, who were with the woman at the time, were also badly hurt in the blast.
Preliminary findings suggest the grenade had been left in the apartment by a soldier serving in the North East nearly three years earlier and forgotten until it was uncovered during cleaning. The neighbouring woman had asked the injured soldier to help assess the device, which then exploded without warning.
Emergency responders rushed the wounded to a private hospital in Keffi, after which the female soldier was transferred to the Defence Headquarters Medical Centre in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, for urgent treatment. She was later referred to Cedarcrest Hospital in Apo where she is reported to be receiving ongoing medical care.
The two children injured in the blast were also taken for medical attention, though details of their treatment and condition have not been publicly disclosed.
The explosion has raised concerns about the storage and disposal of abandoned military ordnance in civilian settings, especially in compounds where serving or former service members reside with families. Explosive devices such as grenades can remain extremely dangerous long after being removed from service, and their presence in residential areas poses serious risks when they are accidentally found and mishandled.
Security sources have indicated that investigations are ongoing to establish how the device was left in the apartment and why it remained undiscovered for so long. They have also urged residents to report any suspicious or unexploded ordnance found in homes or communities to security agencies rather than attempting to handle it themselves, in order to prevent further accidental detonations and injuries.
The incident underscores the dangers that unexploded military munitions present to civilians when they are inadvertently kept or stored in residential spaces — a hazard that has prompted safety campaigns by defence and emergency agencies in diverse contexts.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments