7 Pupils Cheat Death in School Explosion in Benue

… Govt officials visit victims, pay hospital bills

Seven pupils of LGEA Primary School, Ater, Aterayange Ward in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State cheated death after sustaining serious injuries when an explosive device went off on their school premises.
The explosion, which occurred on Tuesday September 16, 2025, left the children with varying degrees of injury.
The Education Secretary of Ukum Local Government Area, Mr Felix Igbanongo, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Friday, said: “On Tuesday, the little kids went to school early in the morning and they saw a device and started playing with it. Not knowing what it is, they played with it until one of them began to remove the pin.
“Then, the whole thing blasted so loudly that the villagers on hearing the explosion scattered in different directions out of fear, thinking it was an attack. It was until later that they discovered it was their children who were lying unconscious on the ground. But thank God none is dead.
“As to who dropped the device, we cannot tell for now because we are not sure where it came from.”
Igbanongo said the Ukum council chairman responded swiftly and ensured the evacuation of all the children to St Anthony Hospital, Zaki-Biam, where they are being treated.
The children include Abigail Terseer, a primary five pupil; William Msaaga and Tyolumun Deborah, both of primary six; Terseer Mhenuter, primary three; as well as Mzungwega Mnengeuter, and Aondohemba Luper of primary two and one respectively.
He explained that one of the children, whose eyes were seriously injured has been referred to Makurdi, the state capital, for proper treatment.
Meanwhile, officials of the Benue State Government, led by the Executive Chairman, Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Grace Adagba, on Thursday, visited the pupils at St. Anthony’s Hospital, Zaki-Biam, to ascertain their health condition.
The SUBEB Chairman, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. Margaret Adamu, and the Ukum council chairman, Jonathan Modi, among others, stated that the delegation visited to assess the condition of the affected pupils, as well as the level of damage to the school.
“These children are very dear to us and to the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia. We are here to ensure that their situation improves and that they are taken back to school as soon as possible,” she said.