No fewer than four teenagers have been killed in an explosion involving an improvised explosive device in Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
Nahum Daso, the state Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the event in a statement issued on Friday, saying the device went off behind the Banki Motor Park in Wajari Ward.
According to authorities, the victims were allegedly playing with the device, which they had picked from a bush, when it detonated.
The statement read, “The Borno State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of a tragic Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion that occurred today, 5/12/2025, at about 12:40 hours behind Banki Motor Park, Wajari Ward, Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
“At about 1300 hrs, one Babagana Mohammed ‘M’ of Wajari Ward reported to the police. Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Banki and team, in conjunction with Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, were immediately mobilized to the scene, where the area was cordoned off.”
Daso further stated that Mustapha Tijja, a 12-year-old kid, had critical injuries and was brought to the FHI 360 NGO facility in Banki, where he is receiving treatment.
“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,” he said.
The deceased were named as Awana Mustapha (15), Malum Modu (14), Lawan Ibrahim (12), and Modu Abacha (12).
Daso stated that normalcy had been restored in the area and that the investigation was still ongoing.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, psc, has expressed deep condolences to the affected families and 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 concluded.
