Tragedy struck Bassa community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on Thursday morning as suspected bomb explosions claimed the life of one farmer, Dauda Haruna, and severely injured four others, including three siblings.
The explosions occurred between Bassa and Gwadara as the victims headed to their farm to harvest crops. Witnesses said the first explosion happened when the siblings—Mali (20), Nehemiah (14), and Jona (15)—were on a motorcycle. A second explosion killed Dauda Haruna as he attempted to rescue the siblings.
At the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna, Enoch, father of the injured siblings, recounted the heartbreaking incident. “We heard a loud sound and later learned my children had stepped on a bomb,” he said. Two of the siblings and one rescuer, Abdullahi Shuaibu, each lost a leg due to the explosions.
An eyewitness, Sa’adu Shuaibu, described how one of the victims, on a rescue mission, also fell victim to a bomb. “He had just picked someone on his bike to help, but their motorcycle triggered another explosion,” he said.
Residents of Bassa have appealed to the government for intervention, as this marks the second bomb explosion in the area within the month.
Efforts to contact officials, including the Niger State Police Command and the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed (RTD), yielded no immediate response. The community remains in fear, calling for urgent government action to ensure safety and security.
