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On Saturday, tragedy struck in Nigeria’s Borno state when a homemade explosive device detonated, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, including four children. The incident occurred near the town of Gubio, approximately 80 kilometres from Maiduguri, the regional capital. The victims were metal scavengers who were sorting through the scraps they had collected from the surrounding bush when the explosion occurred inside an unfinished building used to store the materials.
Local official Mali Bulama confirmed that the casualties included two men and four children who were students at a nearby Islamic seminary. The identities of the men could not be determined due to the extent of their injuries caused by the blast. Militia leader Babakura Kolo explained that the metal scavengers unintentionally brought the explosive device out from one of the sacks they were sorting, resulting in a devastating blast that killed them and four children who were playing nearby. Another member of the militia, Umar Ari, provided the same account of the incident.
This tragic event sheds light on the ongoing dangers faced by various groups in the region, including metal scavengers, farmers, herders, and loggers. These vulnerable populations frequently find themselves targeted by jihadist groups, who accuse them of serving as informants for the troops and militias fighting against them. The conflict in northeast Nigeria has caused the displacement of around two million people, forcing them to live in makeshift camps. To make ends meet and supplement their meager food rations, many resort to activities such as collecting firewood and metal scraps. Unfortunately, this also exposes them to the risk of attacks by jihadists and the danger of unexploded ordnances.
Last year, authorities in Borno state instituted a ban on scrap metal collection due to an increase in attacks on scavengers and accusations of public property vandalism. However, the ban has failed to deter scavengers, who continue to search for scraps, often coming into contact with hazardous explosives. In July 2022, a similar incident occurred in the town of Bama, near the Sambisa Forest, a known jihadist stronghold, in which 13 metal scrap collectors were killed and three others were injured when an unexploded ordnance they had unearthed exploded.
