The Borno State Police Command has recovered an unexploded hand grenade from a drainage slab in the Moduganari area of Maiduguri, the state capital, following a report from an alert member of the public.
The explosive device was discovered on Saturday, August 15, 2026, and was safely recovered by operatives of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal-Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Base 13 in Maiduguri.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, disclosed the development in a statement, saying the police received the report at about 12:40 p.m. on Saturday regarding a suspected unexploded ordnance found on a drainage slab in the Moduganari area.
According to the police, Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid, directed the specialised EOD-CBRN team to immediately mobilise to the location after receiving the report.
The operatives subsequently arrived at the scene and safely recovered the grenade without any reported casualty or explosion.
The recovered item has been secured for further examination as police investigators work to determine its origin and how it came to be abandoned in the area.
The discovery has renewed attention on the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance in Borno, a state that has endured more than a decade of Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of armed violence. Although Maiduguri and several parts of the state have experienced improved security in recent times, the presence of unexploded or abandoned explosive devices remains a potential threat to residents.
Police authorities commended the resident who alerted security personnel rather than attempting to handle or remove the suspicious object.
The Commissioner of Police also reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Borno State, while encouraging residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious objects or activities.
The police specifically warned members of the public against touching, moving or tampering with suspected explosive devices. Such objects may remain dangerous even when they appear old, damaged or abandoned.
Instead, residents have been urged to maintain a safe distance and immediately notify the police or other relevant security agencies so that trained personnel can assess and safely neutralise the threat.
The recovery also highlights the importance of cooperation between residents and security agencies in maintaining peace in communities that have previously been affected by insurgency.
Security agencies have repeatedly stressed that timely information from residents can help prevent potentially serious incidents, particularly in areas where abandoned weapons or explosives may still be present.
The Borno Police Command said investigation into the latest discovery remains ongoing, with authorities expected to establish where the grenade came from and whether its presence in the drainage area was connected to any criminal or terrorist activity.
For residents of Moduganari, the safe recovery of the grenade has removed an immediate danger from the neighbourhood. However, police authorities have urged continued vigilance and cooperation as security agencies work to identify and address other potential threats across Maiduguri and the wider state.
