A female soldier, identified as Mohammed, and two children were seriously injured on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, after a hand grenade detonated at Maraba, Abacha Road, Nasarawa State. The incident has raised concerns about the storage of military ordnance in residential areas and the potential dangers to civilians.
According to an incident report obtained exclusively by PUNCH Online, the explosion occurred around 11:46 am when a woman brought out the grenade from her apartment during routine cleaning and asked the soldier to help identify it. The device reportedly exploded while being handled, causing severe injuries to Mohammed, including damage to her left wrist, and injuring two of the woman’s children.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the grenade had been left in the apartment three years earlier by a soldier serving in the North East, who has not yet been identified. The device was reportedly stored in the room of the soldier’s sister, who resides in the same compound as Mohammed.
The report stated, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the grenade was brought by a yet-to-be-identified soldier serving in the North East three years ago. The soldier left the grenade in his sister’s room, who is living in the same compound as Mohammed. It was further gathered that the sister of the soldier brought out the grenade from her apartment during cleaning and asked the victim to identify if it was useful or should be discarded. However, upon receipt of confirmation, the grenade exploded immediately, causing severe injury to Mohammed’s left wrist and other injuries to her body. Also, two children of the woman who brought out the grenade were severely injured.”
Following the explosion, Mohammed was initially rushed to Nagari Allah Private Hospital in Keffi by her sister and some of her co-tenants. She was later transferred to the Defence Headquarters Medical Centre in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, before being referred to Cedarcrest Hospital in Apo for specialised treatment. According to the report, her condition has stabilised and she is responding well to medical care.
The report added that investigations are ongoing to determine the precise circumstances that led to the incident and to identify any parties responsible for leaving the grenade in a residential area. Relevant photographs of the scene have also been attached to the official report.
The explosion has drawn attention to the risks posed by the improper storage of explosive devices, particularly in areas where civilians, including children, may come into contact with them. Safety experts warn that even devices left dormant for years can remain highly dangerous and emphasise the importance of proper handling and disposal by trained personnel.
When contacted, the Director of Defence Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, stated that he had not yet been briefed on the matter but assured that the military would cooperate fully with authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.
The incident has sparked calls for stricter regulations on the storage of military explosives in residential compounds and heightened public awareness of the dangers associated with unattended ordnance.
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