By Damilare Adeleye
Operatives of Borno State Police Command have reportedly neutralised potential threats in Maiduguri after recovering eight unexploded ordnance (UXOs) in Dala and Gwange areas of the state.
The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Police Command, ASP Grace Michael, disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday, adding that the recoveries followed distress calls from residents reporting suspicious objects on November 22, 2024.
Grace stated that at around 8:43am, residents of Dala-Abuja Talakawa area discovered unidentified objects near an uncompleted building.
She added that the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Base 13 team swiftly responded, safely retrieving six projectiles and an unexploded mortar bomb.However, later, at about 1pm, a similar report from the Gwange area led the EOD-CBRN team to recover an unexploded hand grenade along the riverbank.
According to Grace, all items were relocated to a secure facility for safe disposal.
The statement commended the residents for their prompt reporting and emphasised the importance of vigilance.
“The safety of the public remains our utmost priority. We encourage everyone to report suspicious items or activities to law enforcement immediately,” she stated.
The Borno State Police Command also reminded the public to avoid handling suspicious objects and to maintain caution in areas with a history of military or insurgent activity.
The statement read, “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.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Yusufu Mohammed Lawal, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring public safety.