7 Pupils Injured as Explosion Rocks Primary School
By Alofe Ayomoses
Tragedy struck in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday when an explosion inside a classroom at LGEA Primary School, Ater, left seven pupils injured.
Eyewitnesses said the blast occurred after the children unknowingly played with a strange object they found during school hours. The incident caused panic in the community and damaged part of the school building, though no life was lost.
A resident, identified as Ternenger, told reporters that the children mistook the object for a toy and inserted it into a combustible element, leading to the sudden detonation.
“The children picked up an object and were playing with it, and inserted it into a combustible element, which led to the explosion. Thankfully, no life was lost, but seven pupils sustained injuries. It was not an armed attack targeted at the school, but purely an accident,” he said.
Ternenger suggested that the object might have been part of an explosive device left behind by security operatives during a previous clearance operation in the area.
The injured pupils were identified as Abigail Terseer (Primary Five), William Msaaga and Tyolumun Deborah (both Primary Six), Terseer Mhenuter (Primary Three), Mzungwega Mnengeuter (Primary Two) and Aondohemba Luper (Primary One).
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit had been deployed to secure and evaluate the scene to prevent further danger.
A team from the Benue State Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, led by Commissioner Dr Margaret Adamu, later visited both the school and the injured pupils at St Anthony’s Hospital, Zaki-Biam. She commended Ukum LGA Chairman, Jonathan Modi, for his swift intervention and praised the hospital staff for their prompt care.
Chairman Modi, who said he was away on official duties when the blast occurred, noted that three of the victims were ready for discharge, while one with an eye injury would be referred to Makurdi for specialist treatment.
Rev. Sr. Susan Tonguve, Managing Director of St Anthony’s Hospital, confirmed that all the children had been stabilised, with only one requiring intensive care.
On behalf of the parents, Mzungwega Yongo expressed gratitude to the Benue State Government for its quick response and support for the affected families.
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