By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Shock and panic tore through Kaduna following the discovery of lethal, military-grade bombs from a scavenged items firm located around an industrial area in the city.
Scavengers of used items are popularly known as Babanbola in local parlance.
Police said the bombs were transported from terrorism-ridden Borno State. No one or group has been linked to the consignment.
Besides the bombs, the Kaduna State Police Command said it also recovered one locally made pistol with 21 rounds of ammunition and other high caliber weapons.
In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesman, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Mansir Hassan today, August 6, in Kaduna, the police narrated the trajectory of the shock findings.
The statement read,in part: “On 2nd August 2025, acting on credible intelligence received, the Command was alerted to the presence of suspicious items believed to be Unexploded Ordnances (UXOs) at a scavenger’s company located around the Kudandan Industrial Area in Kaduna South Local Government Area.
“The suspicious items were said to have been found within a load of trash waste, was (sic) recently transported from Borno State.
“Upon receipt of the information, a specialized team of the Command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, led by the Commander, promptly responded to the scene.
“After a thorough assessment, the items were confirmed to be unexploded military-grade ordinance bombs.
“The EOD team immediately evacuated the UXOs to a secure location, where they will be safely demolished in line with established safety protocols.”
According to the statement, additional items recovered in the course of the operation included the pistol fully loaded with six rounds of ammunition,15 rounds of 7.2mm live ammunition, 3 live cartridges and assorted ammunition.
The spokesman quoted the State Commissioner of Police (CP), Rabiu Muhammad, as directing that the premises be sealed off to enable the EOD unit conduct thorough combing of the facility to ensure that no further explosive devices are available there.
Muhammad, he added, reiterated the Command’s commitment to maintaining law and order and called on the public to continue to provide useful and timely information to aid in the prevention of crime and protection of lives and property.
He ordered all scavenged items companies and depots within the state to close shop immediately so as to stop the receiving of such suspicious consignments from crises-torn areas, especially the North-East.
Muhammad warned all Police Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to be vigilant and arrest any defaulters of the order.
