14-year-old killed while melting IED mistaken for scrap in Borno

A 14-year-old boy in Borno state has been reportedly killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) mistaken for scrap metal. 

According to Zagazola Makama, a publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the incident occurred in Banki town, Bama LGA of Borno, on Wednesday.

Two other persons were said to have sustained injuries as a result of the incident.

A source who witnessed the incident told the publication that the deceased and two of his friends picked the IED while scouring the outskirts of the village for scrap metal. 

“On their return, the young boy attempted to destroy the object by hitting it with an iron. When that didn’t work, he took the bomb to where his mother was cooking and placed it on fire with the intention to melt and dismantle it,” the source said. 

“Unfortunately, the bomb exploded, shattering his body into pieces.

“The incident once again raised concerns about the safety of children in the so-called liberated communities, especially now that the state government is returning thousands of internally displaced persons to their communities.”