An explosion has left seven pupils injured at LGEA Primary School, Ater, in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to residents, the pupils found an unfamiliar object inside one of the classrooms on Tuesday and thinking it was a toy, a few pupils began to play with it before it suddenly detonated.
A resident, simply identified as Ternenger, recounted the incident, saying, “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. The blast also damaged part of the school building.”
Ternenger suggested the object might have been part of an explosive device accidentally left behind by security operatives during a past clearance operation.
The injured pupils were named 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).
Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the incident.
He said an Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit was deployed to secure and evaluate the scene.
A delegation from the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, led by Commissioner Dr Margaret Adamu, later visited the school and the injured pupils at St Anthony’s Hospital, Zaki-Biam.
Adamu commended Ukum LGA Chairman, Jonathan Modi, for his quick action and thanked the hospital staff for their prompt care, expressing confidence in the children’s full recovery.
The council Chairman Modi, who said he was away on official duties when the blast occurred, explained that three of the victims were almost ready for discharge, while one pupil with a serious eye injury would be referred to Makurdi for specialised treatment.
Managing Director of St Anthony’s Hospital, Rev. Sr. Susan Tonguve, confirmed that all the injured children had been stabilised, with only one requiring further intensive eye care.
On behalf of the parents, Mzungwega Yongo thanked the Benue State Government for its quick response and support to the affected families.
