A tragic incident unfolded in Gubio, Borno State, on Saturday, as an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated, claiming the lives of six individuals, including four children.
The blast occurred in an unfinished building used to store scrap metal, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by displaced persons and metal scavengers in the region.
Local authorities confirmed the fatalities, with political administrator Mali Bulama detailing the casualties: two unidentified men and four children attending an Islamic seminary near the site.
The men’s bodies were severely mutilated by the explosion, hindering identification.
According to militia leader Babakura Kolo, the metal scavengers were sorting through collected scraps when they unearthed the IED from one of their sacks, triggering the fatal blast.
Umar Ari, another militia member, corroborated this account.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the 14-year insurgency in northeast Nigeria. Over 40,000 lives have been lost, and two million people displaced from their homes.
Many displaced individuals, including the victims in this case, resort to scavenging for firewood and metal scraps to supplement meager food rations.
However, these activities expose them to heightened risks. Militants often target loggers, scavengers, farmers, and herders, accusing them of aiding troops and militias. In June 2023, Borno state authorities banned scrap metal collecting due to escalating militant attacks and concerns about public property damage.
Despite the ban, the need for survival compels many to continue scavenging, facing constant dangers from militant attacks and unexploded ordnances left behind by the conflict.
In July 2022, a similar incident in Bama claimed the lives of 13 scrap collectors and injured three others.
The tragedy in Gubio underscores the urgent need for sustained efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and ensure the safety of displaced communities in northeast Nigeria.
Only through comprehensive solutions tackling security, food insecurity, and economic opportunities can such avoidable tragedies be prevented and lasting peace be achieved.
