Five children injured, one loses hand in Borno IED explosion

An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State has left five children injured, one of whom lost a hand. 

According to security analyst, Zagazola Makama, the explosion occurred around 14:25 hours on Thursday, May 8, 2025, when the children unknowingly tampered with IED devices, hidden in block holes near a culvert on the access road to the ongoing construction site at the New Mafa Central Mosque. 

The victims, four males and one female, were identified as Abdullahi Umar, Musa Mele, Fatima Abatcha, Abba Kawu Muhammed, and Khalid Alhaji Bukar, all of Mafa town. 

The blast caused varying degrees of injuries, with one of the boys losing his hand. 

Following the incident, a combined team from the Explosive Ordinance Disposal-Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Unit, police from Mafa Division, and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) responded. 

The scene was cordoned off, and secondary devices were searched for, with pieces of cans used as improvised containers for the IED found and professionally detonated. 

Four of the victims were referred to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for treatment, while one victim with minor injuries was treated and discharged at Mafa General Hospital. 

In response to the attack, the EOD-CBRN team conducted Explosive Ordinance Risk Education (EORE) for children and community members in Mafa.