“On the fateful day, Muhammad and Umar had asked me in the morning if they can go to the farm to which I said no because I had something doing in Malumfashi town. After I left, they met with their peers and went to fetch grass for our sheep. In the process, they died.” These were the emotional words of Mallam Iliya Adamu Yam’mama who lost three children and a grandchild to last Saturday’s grenade explosion in Katsina State.
“It was not their tradition to go and fetch grass but the influence of their peers and fate made them to go and meet their death.” Narrated another parent, Abdullahi Abdu, 50, who lost two children.
Asides mallams Iliya and Abdullahi, parents and relatives of the victims of last week’s grenade explosion in Malumfashi LGA of Katsina State are still finding it difficult to recover from the grievous shock the incident has caused them.
The explosion occurred last Saturday at Yam’mama village along Malumfashi-Yashe Road and left seven children dead, with four others severely injured who are receiving treatment at the General Hospital Malumfashi.
Adamu lost three children and a grandchild while his three other children were injured in the gory incident. He also said not all the victims of the horrific incident belong to him as was earlier reported but that they were relatives of his.
Malam Adamu, one of the leaders of the NURTW in Malumfashi, said when he was told that his children were involved in a bomb explosion, he did not believe it until he got home and realized that he lost three children and a grandchild.
“I was at the park when I received a phone call from one of my sons, Zaharaddeen. He said that I should come immediately that a bomb exploded and had even killed some of my children. I summoned courage and got to the spot. All I know is that beside destiny, my children would not have been to that place. When I got there, police officers stopped me from approaching the exact spot, whilst consoling me. The agony and trauma were too much but I remained unperturbed until they took away the corpses and the injured victims. They later brought back the corpses to us for funeral while the wounded were taken to the hospital.
“Those that died from my side were Muhammad Iliya, 13; Umar Iliya, 7; Isiya Iliya, 6; and my grandchild Mustapha Usman, 6. Those injured were Fatima Iliya, Maryam Iliya and Iliya Iliya who are eight, 10 and seven years old, respectively.”
Other parents who lost their children in the incident include Abdullahi Abdu, Nura Abdulkadir, Muhammad Sanusi and Muhammad Liti.
Abdullahi Abdu, 50, who lost two children, said they have no option than to accept the unfortunate incident as the will of God but it will continue to linger in their minds.
“Al’amin Abdullahi, 12, died on the spot but his sister Aminatu, 10, was taken to the ABUTH Shika before she died.”
Abdu added that he was at Unguwar Kuli, a nearby village where he operates a grinding machine, when his attention was called that his children were involved in a bomb blast.
“We are seriously terrified, particularly the mother of the two children who still is in shock. The third child who was injured is now receiving treatment at Malumfashi General Hospital,” said Abdullahi Abdu.
He further said it was out of ignorance that the children tampered with the hand grenade when they discovered it on the farm.
Fatima Nura was the seventh of the dead victims was said to have been buried a day after the funeral of the first six.
According to her father Malam Nura Abdulkadir, 40, she was a good friend to the children of Malam Iliya and on that fateful day, she joined them to collect grass for the animals.
“I was on my farm working when I heard a deafening sound around 11am. In a short while, I was told that a bomb exploded and my daughter was involved. At first, I did not agree with the involvement of my daughter until when my younger brother confirmed it,” said Abdulkadir.
Our correspondent who visited General Hospital Malumfashi where four of the children were still receiving treatment, learnt from the parents that Malumfashi Local Government Council took the responsibilities of the bills of the injured children.
Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that on the fateful day, 11 children had gone to collect grasses for animals from the farm of one Alhaji Hussaini MaiKwai when the incident occurred.
Although activities are gradually picking up in the village, residents are still apprehensive and keep recalling the event.
Malama Ummah of Maqera Quarters, who usually goes to farms with her children to work or fetch firewood, said she came in contact with the said grenade before its eventual explosion.
“I saw the children on the farm. One of them had picked up the item but the older child quickly identified it as a bomb.
“I collected it with my bare hands and looked at it; I said it may have fallen off a moving vehicle. At that point, one of the children collected it back and said he will take it to those people who buy metal scraps,” she said.
“I left them there and went away with my children, and a few minutes later I heard a loud explosion. I saw a vehicle parking so I thought it was a tire burst, but then I saw people running towards the direction I just left so I returned only to see the corpses of the children I just spoke with littered around,” she added.
Malama Ummah’s son, Ahmad Abdullahi, who narrowly escaped death, said, “I had wanted to keep the device but Muhammadu came to me claiming ownership and wanted it back, so I gave it to him. He, however, removed a pin from the device with which he hit my head. We later went on our way. Muhammad went away, holding it, alongside Maryam and Al-Amin,” he said.
A youth in the village Hassan Shehu said, “I still recollect the incidence, I sleep with it on my mind. I’m scared for my village.”
However, all the parents of the victims said they believe that the misfortune was preordained, hence their total submission to the will of the Almighty.
Governor Aminu Masari and the Emir of Katsina, alongside other concerned individuals, have visited the village to condole the victims over the incidence.
Since the incidence, concerned parents and other stakeholders have been calling for a thorough investigation into the matter.
The chairman of the state Civil Society organisation CSOs, Dr Bishir Ruwangodiya, who led some members to condole the Malumfashi district head and the family, said security agencies should deeply investigate the matter because of its seriousness and advised parents to be conscious of the whereabouts of their wards and children at all times.
Former adviser to the minister of sports Solomon Dalung, Alhaji Maiwada Danmalam, said “We should not downplay the seriousness of the blast as incidences like this are only a sign of worse things to come.”
The one-time special Adviser to Governor Aminu Masari on Social Media said “This incident should be thoroughly investigated by relevant agencies to determine the cause of this blast and how to nip it in the bud. All loose ends must be tied to make sense of this event to prevent future occurrence and possibly save lives of innocent citizens,” he added.
Also, the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ while condemning the incident, urged authorities to fish out the individuals or group that may have dropped the grenade on the affected farm.
The funeral prayer for the victims was conducted on Saturday, July 18 around 6:30 pm by Danejin Katsina, District Head of Mahuta, Alhaji Bello Abdulkadir.
The state police command, through its spokesperson, SP Gambo Isa, said the force was still investigating the matter.
