1 killed, siblings injured as bomb explosions rock Niger community

A suspected bomb explosion has claimed the life of a farmer, Dauda Haruna, and left four others, including three siblings, severely injured in the Bassa community of Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State. The tragic incident occurred Thursday morning as the victims were heading to their farm to harvest crops.

Eyewitnesses reported that the first explosion struck as the siblings—Mali (20), Nehemiah (14), and Jona (15)—were riding a motorcycle between Bassa and Gwadara. Moments later, a second blast occurred when Haruna and another rescuer arrived at the scene on a motorcycle, killing Haruna and severely injuring the other rescuer. The siblings and one rescuer each lost a leg in the explosions.

The children’s father, Mr. Enoch, recounted the harrowing ordeal at the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna, where the injured are being treated. Struggling to contain his emotions, Enoch revealed that this is the second bomb explosion in Bassa this month. “While on foot with my wife, I heard a deafening sound and feared for my children who had gone ahead on a bike. A passerby confirmed my worst fears: they had stepped on a bomb,” he said.

Residents have appealed to state and federal authorities for immediate intervention, as fear grips the community. Efforts to get a response from the Niger State Police Command and the Commissioner for Homeland Security have so far been unsuccessful, leaving unanswered questions about the source of the explosives and steps to prevent further tragedies.