An explosion at LGEA Primary School, Ater, in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, injured seven pupils on Friday after they reportedly discovered and played with an object suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
Witnesses said the children were in class when they found the object, mistook it for a toy, and inserted it into a combustible material, triggering the blast.
Local resident Ternenger, who spoke to Daily Post, described the incident as an accident and not a targeted attack on the school. “Thankfully, no life was lost, but seven pupils sustained injuries. The blast also damaged part of the school building,” he said, adding that the object may have been left behind from a past security clearance operation.
The injured pupils were identified as:
- Abigail Terseer (Primary Five)
- William Msaaga (Primary Six)
- Tyolumun Deborah (Primary Six)
- Terseer Mhenuter (Primary Three)
- Mzungwega Mnengeuter (Primary Two)
- Aondohemba Luper (Primary One)
Benue State Police spokesperson DSP Udeme Edet confirmed that an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team had been deployed to secure and assess the area.
A delegation from the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, led by Commissioner Dr. Margaret Adamu, visited both the school and St. Anthony’s Hospital, Zaki-Biam, where the children were receiving treatment. She commended Ukum Local Government Chairman, Jonathan Modi, for his swift response and expressed optimism that all the children would recover fully.
Chairman Modi revealed that three of the pupils were already nearing discharge, while one with a serious eye injury would be transferred to Makurdi for specialised care.
St. Anthony’s Hospital Managing Director, Rev. Sr. Susan Tonguve, said all victims had been stabilised, with only one requiring intensive eye treatment.
Parents of the injured children, represented by Mzungwega Yongo, expressed gratitude to the state government for its quick intervention and support to the affected families.
