A quiet afternoon in Banki turned devastating after an improvised explosive device detonated, claiming the lives of four teenagers and leaving another critically injured, sparking renewed calls for vigilance in communities across Borno State.
Security authorities confirmed the incident occurred near the Banki Motor Park in Wajari Ward, where the victims were said to have stumbled upon the device and begun to tamper with it.
The explosion shattered the calm of the area, drawing the attention of residents and security operatives.
Police spokesperson Nahum Daso described the incident as “heartbreaking and preventable,” stressing that ignorance of the danger posed by abandoned explosives continues to cost young lives in communities recovering from insurgency.
According to officers familiar with the investigation, the teenagers reportedly discovered the device in the bush and took it to a makeshift shelter not far from the motor park, where it exploded while they were fiddling with it.
Emergency teams, including Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists, responded swiftly to the scene, cordoning off the area and commencing preliminary investigations.
The deceased were identified as 15-year-old Awana Mustapha, 14-year-old Malum Modu, and two 12-year-olds, Lawan Ibrahim and Modu Abacha.
A fifth teenager, Mustapha Tijja, survived but remains hospitalised with serious injuries. Medical workers attending to him said he is showing signs of recovery.
In a statement addressing the incident, Daso revealed the police are intensifying community policing awareness, warning members of the public against touching unfamiliar metal objects, sealed containers, or items suspected to contain explosives.
“Communities must adopt a safety-first approach because these devices are silent killers,” Daso said, emphasising the lasting danger of unexploded remnants in areas once occupied by insurgents.
Authorities say normalcy has returned to the area, though investigative efforts remain ongoing.
Local leaders have also called for stronger public awareness campaigns, insisting that parents and schools must continue to educate children about the dangers of suspicious objects.
AFRIPOST reports that the tragedy yet again highlights an ongoing challenge faced by communities emerging from conflict, the hidden remnants of war that persist long after the gunfire stops, reminding residents that recovery requires not just rebuilding, but constant vigilance.