By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
An improvised explosive device, IED, mistaken for scrap detonated in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, resulting in the tragic deaths of six Quranic school pupils, popularly known as Almajirai in Hausa parlance.
This was even as the Chairman of Gubio Local Government Area, Hon Mali Gubio Mali. said seven people were killed with two unidentified mutilated bodies suspected to be suicide bombers.
The incident took place on Saturday, January 27, 2023, when a metal scavenger unknowingly collected and stored various metallic items in a building in close proximity to a Tsangaya school.
Unfortunately, little did the scavenger know that among the collected metal was an abandoned undetonated IED, which exploded at approximately 2pm, claiming the lives of the children and causing severe bodily harm.
It is worth noting that metal scavenging had been prohibited in Borno State by Governor Babagana Zulum since July 2023, following reports of alleged vandalism of government facilities in abandoned communities.
All efforts to get confirmation from security agencies on the incident proved abortive, but our correspondent, who spoke to reliable security intelligence, confirmed the deadly blast, which he shared pictures of the gory scene.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, Hon Mali, has confirmed the deadly attacks on seven persons, mostly Almajiris, and other two unidentified mutilated bodies suspected to be suicide bombers.
Mali, in an interview with our correspondent in Maiduguri regretted over the unfortunate incident, even as the Borno State government under the leadership of Governor Zulum has since banned activities of metal scavenging across the state.
Mali said, “The incident is very shocking and unfortunate, but we are working round the clock to ascertain what really led to these dastardly killings by IEDs in the area.”
