By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, BORNO
BORNO:: Tragedy struck in Borno State on Thursday as five children sustained injuries from an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Mafa Local Government Area, a grim reminder of the lingering threats of insurgency in the region. One of the victims reportedly lost a hand in the explosion.
The incident occurred around 2:25pm near a culvert along the access road to the construction site of the New Mafa Central Mosque. Authorities said the children triggered the IED, which had been hidden inside block holes at the site.
The victims, all residents of Mafa town, were identified as Abdullahi Umar, Musa Mele, Fatima Abatcha, Abba Kawu Muhammed, and Khalid Alhaji Bukar. They suffered varying degrees of injuries, with four of them rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for specialized care. The fifth child was treated at Mafa General Hospital and later discharged.
A swift joint response from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal-Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Unit, Mafa Police Division, and Civilian Joint Task Force ensured the area was secured. Fragments of the IED, which was fashioned using tin containers, were recovered and neutralized.
“The safety of our children must be prioritised. We urge residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects,” a security source involved in the response told our correspondent.
In response to the blast, the EOD-CBRN unit launched an Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) campaign in the community to raise awareness about the dangers of unexploded devices — a legacy of the Boko Haram insurgency that has plagued the region for over a decade.
Community leaders and parents in Mafa have called on government and humanitarian organisations to intensify clearance operations in residential and public areas, especially locations frequented by children.
“It’s heartbreaking that our children are still exposed to such dangers. We need more action to secure our communities,” said a local elder who witnessed the aftermath of the explosion.
Borno State, the epicenter of Nigeria’s long-running insurgency, continues to grapple with the remnants of violence, despite major gains by the military in recent years.