Five Children Injured in IED Explosion Near Mosque Construction Site
A peaceful afternoon turned into a nightmare for residents of Mafa Local Government Area in Borno State after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near the construction site of the New Mafa Central Mosque, injuring five children.
According to Zagazola Makama, a security-focused publication covering the Lake Chad region, the explosion occurred around 2:25 PM on Thursday. The children, unaware of the danger, reportedly tampered with the hidden explosives lodged in holes near a culvert along the road leading to the mosque site.
The victims—four boys and one girl—have been identified as Abdullahi Umar, Musa Mele, Fatima Abatcha, Abba Muhammed, and Khalid Bukar. The blast inflicted varying degrees of injuries, with one child tragically losing a hand.
Emergency responders from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal-Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) unit, alongside officers from the Mafa Police Division and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), swiftly moved to secure the area. The site was cordoned off, and a meticulous search for secondary devices was conducted.
Authorities discovered remnants of the IEDS—cans repurposed as deadly containers—scattered across the scene. These were safely detonated by the EOD team.
In the aftermath, the EOD-CBRN unit conducted an urgent Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) session for children and residents, emphasising the hidden dangers of tampering with unknown objects and the importance of reporting suspicious items.
