In a proactive move to avert looming danger, the Zamfara State Police Command has raised alarm over the deadly risks posed by unexploded bombs and homemade explosive devices often disguised as harmless scrap.
Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba, psc+, led a crucial sensitization session with members of the Zamfara State Scrap and Waste Dealers Association, highlighting the hidden threats of Unexploded Ordnance (UXOs) and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) lurking in the junkyards and backstreets of the state.
“Scrap handlers could unknowingly be picking up death,” warned the Command during the engagement, stressing that many of these devices, remnants of past conflicts, are dangerously unstable and could detonate with a simple touch.
The session explained how UXOs – bombs, shells, and grenades that failed to explode on impact – often resemble rusted metal or debris, making them easy to mistake for regular scrap. Similarly, IEDs, including car bombs and booby-trapped items, are increasingly being recycled from old munitions and hidden in everyday objects.
To avert disaster, the Command issued strict safety guidelines: Don’t touch, don’t move—just report. The police urged all citizens to maintain vigilance and report any suspicious items to the nearest police station or via emergency hotlines.
The sensitization drive is part of the Command’s wider mission to safeguard lives and property amid ongoing security challenges in Zamfara.
For reports or emergencies, citizens are urged to contact the police immediately.
Press Released Signed By DSP Yazid Abubakar, Police Public Relations Officer
Zamfara State Command, Gusau.
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