Explosive experts have warned the public to be vigilant and to immediately report any suspicious objects they see to the nearest security outpost.
The warning came after an internally displaced woman was seriously wounded and severely burnt when she picked up an “innocent-looking” object made of plastic and metal that her five children had brought home after collecting firewood.
Ya Kaltum Babagana, an IDP originally from the Marte Local Government Area and now living in the Abbaganaram area of Maiduguri, tried to use the object to light firewood so that she could cook the meal for breaking the fast on Tuesday, April 4.
Suddenly there were huge flames, which she and her neighbours managed to put out with sand.
When Ya Kaltum went to pick up the object from the sand it exploded, severely wounding and burning her.
She was rushed to hospital for treatment.
A relative, Makki Babagana, told RNI that the object exploded at about 5pm just as most of the women were preparing to cook food for breaking the fast.
“Ya Kaltum saw the tiny plastic and metal object which she believed her children had brought home from fetching firewood in the forest. She decided to use it to try to start the fire for cooking. When the huge flames flared up, she and other women threw sand to extinguish the fire.
“As Ya Kaltum was bending down to retrieve it from the sand so that she could throw it away, the object exploded causing severe wounds and burns to her legs, chest, face and hands.
“We quickly rushed her to the State Specialist Hospital where they referred us to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. The healthcare workers and doctors there refused to admit her, saying she needed a police report or signed document from a non-governmental organisation.”
Makki said they went to the humanitarian Norwegian Refugee Council, where they were given a signed document and the hospital then admitted her. He said she was still in hospital receiving care.
“We hope she will recover soon.”
He called on the government, philanthropists and humanitarian agencies to help her.
“Ya Kaltum is an IDP and while she is in hospital her children need food and other essentials. She also needs money to pay for the hospital care she is receiving and for transportation when she is discharged.”
Falmata Ali Abadam, an Explosive Ordinance Risk Education (EORE) and Non-Technical Survey (NTS) specialist with the Peace Ambassadors Centre for Humanitarian and Empowerment (PACH), told RNI that they had been told about the explosion three days ago.
“One of our duties and responsibilities is to educate and enlighten people about the risks and dangers of explosive devices. We hold massive public awareness meetings across Borno State, particularly in rural areas where there are still many improvised explosive devices [IEDs] and landmines on the outskirts of towns, in bushes and around forests.
“That’s why we keep telling people, especially women and children, not to pick up any strange or suspicious-looking objects while they are collecting firewood. We tell them not to touch plastic bottles and other items, including metal objects, even if they don’t look dangerous. We have told them that if they see anything strange or suspicious on their farmlands, in the forests and on the outskirts of towns, no matter how big or small, they need to tell security operatives immediately for their own safety, the safety of their families, as well as for all the inhabitants in the area.”
Ahmad Bello Bashir, also an EORE and NTS specialist with PACH, said: “Because of the insurgency that has been raging in Borno State for 13 years, there are still a lot of explosives, especially in rural areas. It is imperative for all inhabitants in the northeast to be vigilant at all times. It is estimated that 3,940 people have been wounded, maimed or killed by these explosive devices.”
SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO
