The Police in Borno State say they have have successfully recovered eight unexploded ordnances (UXOs) from residential areas in Maiduguri, the state capital, following public alerts on Friday.
The Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Lawan Yusufu, disclosed that the recovery operations began after receiving distress calls from residents in the Dala and Gwange areas of the metropolis.
According to the Police, the first discovery occurred at approximately 8:43 AM when residents spotted suspicious objects near an uncompleted building in the Dala-Abuja Talakawa area. The Command’s EOD-CBRN Base 13 team responded promptly, recovering six projectiles and one unexploded mortar bomb.
In a related development later that day, around 1:00 PM, another unexploded ordnance – a hand grenade – was discovered along the Gwange river bank.
The Police say preliminary investigations suggest the explosives were displaced and exposed by recent flooding in the state.
“Our initial findings indicate that these ordnances were washed ashore by the recent devastating flood incident in the state,” Commissioner Yusufu explained. Following the recoveries, police personnel conducted Explosive Ordinance Risk Awareness (EORE) sessions with residents of both communities, providing crucial safety information.
The Police Commissioner has reassured the public of the command’s commitment to ensuring safety and security. “We urge the public to remain calm but vigilant,” Yusufu stated. “Anyone who spots suspicious objects or activities should immediately report them to the police.”
