Four children have lost their lives and another person was injured following the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) in Banki, located in the Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
The tragic incident was confirmed on Friday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, who stated that the explosion occurred behind the Banki Motor Park in Wajari Ward.
Police reports indicate that the victims had been playing with the device, which they were believed to have picked up from the surrounding bush, before it exploded.
In a statement, the command said:
“The Borno State Police Command wishes to notify the public of an unfortunate Improvised Explosive Device explosion that occurred today, December 5, 2025, at approximately 12:40 hours behind Banki Motor Park, Wajari Ward, Banki, Bama LGA.”
Daso added that the police received a report around 1 p.m. from one Babagana Mohammed of Wajari Ward. Officers, along with Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists, immediately moved to the scene and secured the area.
A 12-year-old boy, Mustapha Tijja, was severely injured and transported to the FHI 360 NGO clinic in Banki, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.
Further investigations revealed that Mustapha had accompanied four friends to a makeshift shelter behind the motor park. The children were reportedly handling an IED they had found in the bush when it accidentally went off.
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.
Daso assured that calm has been restored in the area and that an investigation is underway.
The police commissioner, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, expressed heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims and urged the public — particularly children — to avoid unfamiliar objects and immediately report any suspicious items to the authorities.
This incident comes months after a similar tragedy in April 2025, when two separate IED blasts in Gujba LGA of Yobe State claimed at least four lives and injured 21 others. The explosions, believed to have been planted by ISWAP terrorists, occurred along the Goniri–Buni Yadi Road, affecting a commercial pickup and later a motorcyclist who unknowingly rode over another device.
