Explosion Rocks Benue Primary School While Children Were Around, Details Emerge

• Seven pupils were injured in a suspected IED explosion at a primary school in Benue State, Nigeria
• The blast occurred after children unknowingly played with an explosive device found on the school premises
• Police have launched an investigation and deployed bomb disposal experts to sweep the area for further threats

Seven schoolchildren were injured following the detonation of a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) at LGEA Primary School, Ater Ayange, located in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counterinsurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the explosion occurred at approximately 2pm on 16 September.

The outlet reported that the incident unfolded when a group of pupils discovered an unfamiliar object on the school grounds and began playing with it, unaware that it was an explosive device.

Makama stated that the injured children were promptly taken to a hospital in Zaki-Biam, where they are currently receiving medical treatment. The publication noted that the victims are said to be responding well to care.

Read also

Police arrest self-proclaimed Islamic cleric with suspected human flesh

Police respond after delay in reporting incident

The incident was not immediately reported to law enforcement. Zagazola Makama revealed that it was only on 18 September—two days after the explosion—that the divisional police officer in Ukum received information about the blast and subsequently dispatched a patrol team to both the school and the hospital.

Speaking to TheCable, Benue State Police spokesperson Udeme Edet confirmed that the command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit had been deployed to the scene to assess the situation and identify the nature of the device involved.

“The police is already on top of it. The EOD team were sent to Ukum LGA to sweep the scene for possible recovery of other hidden explosive objects,” Edet said.

He further disclosed that the Criminal Investigation Department had launched a formal inquiry into the incident to determine its origin and any potential threats still present in the area.

Authorities have yet to confirm whether the device was deliberately planted or accidentally left behind.

Read also

NAF airstrikes kill dozens of terrorists in Borno operation

The deployment of the EOD team and the opening of a criminal investigation signal a heightened response to ensure the safety of pupils and staff in the region.

Source: Legit.ng