The Borno State Police Command has averted a potential tragedy after successfully recovering and defusing an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted near an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Mallam Fatori, headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area.
The suspected “victim-operated” explosive was discovered on Monday evening in the border community, which lies about 272 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital. Security officials say the device was deliberately planted to cause mass casualties among displaced persons and local residents.
According to a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, the operation was launched around 4:30 p.m. following intelligence received by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Mallam Fatori.
Acting on the alert, the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, ordered the deployment of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) team from Base 13 in Maiduguri.
“The team cordoned off the area, carried out a systematic clearance, and successfully uncovered the buried IED,” the statement noted. “The device was safely evacuated to a secure location and professionally demolished without casualties or damage to property.”
The command added that members of the community were immediately sensitised about security precautions, while monitoring of the area is ongoing to prevent further threats.
This latest discovery comes less than 24 hours after police operatives defused a similar device planted on farmland in Dikwa Local Government Area, raising fears of renewed attempts by terrorists to destabilize rural communities.
CP Abdulmajid reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Borno State, urging residents to remain alert and report any suspicious movements or objects to the nearest police station.
Security experts have warned that the planting of IEDs near civilian areas highlights the evolving tactics of insurgent groups in the region, particularly against vulnerable populations such as IDPs.
