Seven children at LGEA Primary School, Ater in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State are receiving treatment after an explosive device went off on the school premises.
The blast occurred on Tuesday morning when the pupils reportedly found the device and began playing with it. Local officials said one child removed a pin, triggering the explosion that left the seven with serious injuries.
“They played with it until one of them began to remove the pin. Then the whole thing blasted so loudly that villagers thought it was an attack,” said Ukum Education Secretary, Felix Igbanongo. The injured pupils were taken to St Anthony’s Hospital in Zaki-Biam. One with severe eye injuries has been referred to Makurdi for specialist care.
A delegation led by the Executive Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Grace Adagba, and the Commissioner for Education, Dr Margaret Adamu, visited the children in the hospital on Thursday. The officials said the government would cover their medical bills and repair the damaged school.
Police confirmed the incident and said an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team had been deployed to investigate the source of the device.
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