4 children die, one injured in Borno bomb blast

No fewer than four children have been confirmed dead, while one other was injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion in Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed the incident via a statement issued on Friday, December 5, 2025.

Daso disclosed that the explosion occurred behind the Banki Motor Park in Wajari Ward at about 12:40 p.m. on Friday.

He said that at about 1:00 p.m., one Babagana Mohammed reported the incident to the police, prompting the Divisional Police Officer in Banki to mobilise personnel and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians to the scene.

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Daso said preliminary investigation revealed that a 12-year-old boy, Mustapha Tijja, sustained serious injuries from the explosion and was rushed to the FHI 360 NGO Clinic in Banki, where he is currently receiving treatment.

He explained that further findings revealed that the injured boy had gone with four of his friends to a makeshift room behind the motor park where the victims were playing with an IED allegedly picked from the bush before it detonated.

The police spokesman said normalcy had been restored in the area while an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

The Star