The Borno State Chairman of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Mr. Babakura Kolo has said that 13 scrap-metal collectors are killed in Bama Council of the State.
The scavengers were killed on Tuesday, when an excavated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded from the collected scrap metals.
According to him, sixteen scavengers from an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Bama identified the explosive from metal scraps on Monday near Bama and on the north fringe of Sambisa Forest.
On how they were killed, he said: “The bomb exploded as they were pushing it in a cart towards the town, killing 13 of them, while three were seriously injured.”
Besides, he added that the ordnance however; fell in 2015, when the military bombed insurgents’ hideouts during operations to liberate Bama from the terrorists.
The 13-year terrorism has killed over 40, 000 residents with the displacement of about 2.2 million people in the Northeast.
Bukar Grema, who assists Kolo also said: “The EIDs were dormant for about seven years by being buried in the sand.
“The metal scavengers managed to dig it out, not knowing it was a bomb,” stating that 13 of them were killed after the IED exploded.
Boko Haram captured and seized Bama Township in 2014 including parts of northern Borno to become its Caliphate before the military liberated it in September 2016.
