Tragedy struck, on Saturday, at Beri community in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, following an accidental explosion of a hand grenade which killed four people, including a 22-year-old soldier, a Private attached to 145 Battalion of the Nigerian Army and identified as Mohammed Tanko.
Three other females who died as a result of the explosion were 14-year-old Wasila Adamu, Ruma Bello, 20 years old, and Kulu Garba, 12 years old.
The incident was said to have occurred at about 3.40p.m on Saturday when the deceased soldier, said to have come to the village on a pass from his battalion in Maiduguri, Borno State, was displaying one of the two hand grenades in his possession to his friends around Mahauta area of the Market in Beri community.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Police Command, DSP Bala Elkana, confirmed the incident in a press statement, adding that seven other victims, including three females and four males, sustained various degrees of injuries.
According to Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), “one Mohammed Tanko, a 22-year old Private Soldier attached to 145 Battalion, Maiduguri, who came to Beri in Mariga Local Government on pass, had in his possession two hand grenades. While displaying one of the grenades around Mahuata area of the market in Beri to his friends out of overzealousness, it blasted and killed him and three others.”
He gave the names of the injured victims as Aisha Musa (30), Alhaji Tukur Umaru (60), Barmo Gado Maikifi (35), Ishaya Timothy (25), Saliha Audu (16), Balki Salisu (15), Tukur Sadiq (25) and Mohammad Danbujaja (60), all of Beri Mariga Local Government Area.
DSP Bala Elkana said that a hand grenade had been recovered from the scene, while the area had been cordoned and cleared by police anti-bomb unit, while injured victims and the remains of the dead had been evacuated to General Hospital, Kontagora.
He said the state Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, had ordered an investigation into the incident.
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