A 12-year-old boy, Abubakar Muhammed, was killed on Tuesday morning in Kaduna following the unexpected discharge of a locally assembled firearm in the Abakpa district.
The homemade weapon, commonly referred to as a Dane gun, reportedly went off around 8:30 a.m. near Josawa Road, inflicting injuries on seven others.
The exact cause of the mishap and the individual responsible for handling the weapon remain unclear as investigations continue.
Earlier fears that the area had been rocked by a bomb blast were dismissed by the Kaduna State Police Command.
Speaking with journalists, Police Public Relations Officer Mansir Hassan revealed that initial findings by the Anti-Bomb Squad ruled out any explosive involvement.
Instead, the squad confirmed that the incident stemmed from the accidental firing of the locally made firearm.
Security personnel from the Kawo Police Division, members of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Kaduna North Local Government chairman promptly visited the scene following a distress alert to assess the situation.
Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, with the police pledging to share updates as more facts emerge.
