Seven Pupils Injured In Explosion At Primary School In Benue

Seven pupils sustained injuries following an explosion at LGEA Primary School, Ater, located in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when some pupils discovered an object on the school premises and began playing with it, unaware of its explosive potential, a source told Daily Trust.

A resident who identified himself as Innocent explained that the object was believed to be a component of an explosive device left behind by security operatives who had recently conducted a clearance operation in the area.

“The children picked it up to play with 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. The blast also damaged part of the school building,” he said.

Another witness provided the names of the injured pupils, including Abigail Terseer, a Primary Five pupil, as well as William Msaaga and Tyolumun Deborah, both in Primary Six. Others were Terseer Mhenuter (Primary Three), Mzungwega Mnengeuter (Primary Two), and Aondohemba Luper (Primary One).

The witness added that the pupils discovered the explosive device inside a classroom, believed to have been left behind by military personnel. Unaware of the danger, the children played with the device, which detonated, causing injuries and damage to the school building.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the incident and stated that an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was immediately deployed to secure the environment.

Following the incident, Dr. Grace Adagba, Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), alongside Dr. Margaret Adamu, Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, visited the injured pupils at St. Anthony’s Hospital, Zaki-Biam, on Thursday.

During the visit, Dr. Adagba stated that the delegation’s purpose was to assess the pupils’ condition and evaluate the extent of damage to the school. She assured that prompt steps would be taken to repair the school facility.

“These children are very dear to us and to the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia. We are here to ensure that their situation improves and that they are taken back to school as soon as possible,” she said.

Dr. Adamu commended the prompt intervention of Ukum LGA Chairman, Modi Jonathan, and praised St. Anthony’s Hospital management for providing timely medical care, expressing hope for the pupils’ speedy recovery.

Chairman Jonathan explained that investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the explosion. He confirmed that he was away on official duty when the incident occurred but immediately ensured that the victims received urgent medical attention.

According to Jonathan, three of the injured pupils were ready for discharge, while one with a severe eye injury would be referred to Makurdi for specialized care.

The Managing Director of St. Anthony’s Hospital, Rev. Sr. Susan Tonguve, confirmed that the children had been stabilized. She noted that only one pupil remained in serious condition due to an eye injury, but assured that the hospital was providing all necessary treatment.

Speaking on behalf of the affected parents, Mnzungwega Yongo expressed gratitude to the Benue State Government for its swift response to the incident.

Additionally, Professor Akpen, Director General of Special Projects, Benue State, announced plans to visit the school to evaluate the damage and initiate repair works.

During the visit, SUBEB Chairman Dr. Adagba, Commissioner Dr. Adamu, and their team cleared all medical bills of the injured pupils and paid courtesy calls on the Ukum LGA Chairman and the LGEA office.

Source: Informationng