The Borno State Police Command has successfully recovered eight unexploded ordnance (UXOs) in Dala and Gwange areas of Maiduguri, following distress calls from concerned residents. The command has reassured the public of their safety and urged vigilance.
In a press release issued on Saturday, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Grace Michael, disclosed that the recoveries were made on November 22, 2024, after reports of suspicious objects in the affected areas.
According to ASP Michael, the first incident occurred at approximately 8:43 a.m. in the Dala-Abuja Talakawa area, where residents reported a cluster of unidentified objects near an uncompleted building. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Base 13 team responded swiftly, recovering six projectiles and one unexploded mortar bomb, which were safely relocated to a secure site.
Later that day, at about 1:00 p.m., another report emerged from the Gwange area regarding a suspicious object along the riverbank. The EOD-CBRN team was deployed to the scene and recovered an unexploded hand grenade.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the ordnance were displaced and washed ashore by recent devastating floods in the state. The police command has since conducted Explosive Ordnance Risk Awareness (EORE) training for residents of both communities, educating them on safety measures.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Yusufu Mohammed Lawal, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring public safety. He urged residents to remain calm, vigilant, and to promptly report any suspicious objects or activities through the emergency lines: 0806 807 5581 and 0802 347 3293.
