Four children killed by explosive device in Borno State

Four children were killed and one other child sustained serious injuries when an improvised explosive device (IED) they were reportedly playing with detonated in Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
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The incident occurred on Friday, December 5, behind the Banki Motor Park in Wajari Ward. Police confirmed that the young victims had picked up the suspected IED from a nearby bush, a common source of unexploded ordnance left over from years of conflict in the region.
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The Borno State Police Command confirmed the details, stating that the device exploded at approximately 12:40 in the afternoon.
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‎The deceased were identified as Awana Mustapha (15), Malum Modu (14), Lawan Ibrahim (12), Modu Abacha (12), while a 12 year-old boy, Mustapha Tijja, sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving treatment at the FHI 360 NGO clinic in Banki.
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Similar IED blasts have occurred recently, including an incident in April 2025 in Yobe State, a neighboring state where four people were killed and 21 others injured in two separate blasts attributed to ISWAP terrorists.
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The Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, confirmed that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians were mobilized to the scene, where the area was cordoned off and normalcy was restored.
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The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, extended his condolences and warned members of the public, especially children, to avoid playing with strange objects or suspected explosive devices, and to promptly report such devices to the nearest police station.
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