1.2 Million People At Risk Of Landmine Explosions In North East, Security Expert Warns

A security expert, Group Captain Sadeeq Garba Shehu (retd), has revealed that 1.2 million individuals, comprising returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and members of the host communities in the three states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, are exposed to explosive remnants of the decade-long Boko Haram insurgency.

Group Captain Shehu further stated that in 2022, 639 incidents of bomb explosions were recorded, which resulted in the death of 223 civilians.

Additionally, in 2023, 376 incidents of bomb explosions led to 151 deaths in the affected areas of the states.

He said no fewer than 1,366 explosions targeting civilians by insurgents have been recorded in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe within the past five years.

To this end, he appealed to the Federal Government to undertake comprehensive Mine Risk Awareness and Clearance in the North East to stem the risks caused by the explosives in the region.

Shehu made the appeal in a paper he presented at a two-day stakeholders’ engagement on current security challenges in the North East, which began on Thursday in Maiduguri.

In the paper titled “Dangers of Landmines and other Explosive Ordinances in North East,” the security expert further revealed that 755 civilians were killed and 1,321 injured by the Explosive Ordinances (EO) within the period.

He said, “It has been estimated that approximately 1.2 million individuals in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states continue to be affected by the widespread and indiscriminate use of explosives, including refugees, IDPs, returnees, children, and host communities.

While noting the efforts of the government and international organizations in containing the threat of EO, Shehu called for the implementation of the North East Development Commission’s report on Mine Risk Awareness and Mine Clearance in the region.

He said there is a need to expand landmine risk awareness and explosive ordinance education in the affected areas and called for the training of community volunteers on improvised explosives detection, who would retrain others.

In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, said President Bola Tinubu was concerned about the challenges and has been working assiduously to contain them.

Akume, represented by a Permanent Secretary in his office, Mr. David Attah, said the Federal Government, in collaboration with states in the region, had introduced far-reaching kinetic and non-kinetic measures to address the challenges.

“The sacrifices and gallantry of members of our security agencies have resulted in the neutralization of bandits, insurgents, fundamentalists, and foreign intruders while several thousands of others and their family members have surrendered to troops.

“In line with Nigeria’s adherence to international human rights rules, thousands of captured and surrendered insurgents are undergoing rehabilitation preparatory to reintegration into the communities.

The Chief Host, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, said the workshop is to sensitize the communities in the North East Geo-Political Zone on how they can play a complementary role in fighting insecurity and other vices, and also enable the adoption of community-based security solutions.

He said, “It is expected that at the end of the series of engagements, stakeholders will be encouraged to enlighten other members of their respective communities on the significance of collective efforts in fighting crime and criminality and to take advantage of a platform, especially the Borno Model being established for sharing credible information for enhanced security, provision of quality education, modernization of agriculture, infrastructural development, and a host of other government interventions under the leadership of Governor Zulum and other state governments in the North Eastern states.”