Police in Adjumani district is investigating an incident of bomb explosion which killed 6 children and injured 5 at Maji ll Refugee Settlement. It is alleged that a group of children residing at Maji ll Refugee Settlement went to the bush on a playing spree and picked an object which they didn’t know properly, tried to cut it through using Panga knife, incidentally, the object exploded killing 6 of them and injuring 5. This happened on 16th/02/2021 at around 1400 hours. Upon receiving information from Officer in charge of Maji ll police station, a team of officers including detectives led by DPC Adjumani rushed to the scene to follow up the matter.
Upon arrival of the police team at the scene, Victims were immediately evacuated to Maji ll health center for first aid, relevant statements recorded to guide Investgations, pieces of Panga knife and some particles of fragments recovered and exhibited, 3 dead bodies from the scene retrieved plus 1 other body of those who were rushed for first aid at Maji health center and died shortly, the 4 bodies were conveyed to Adjumani Hospital for postmortem, 7 victims initially rushed to Maji health Centre were instead transfered to Adjumani hospital for further treatment amongst which 2 were later pronounced dead making the total number of the deceased to be 6.
All the 6 bodies are at Adjumani Hospital pending postmortem and their names are: 1.Joseph Otto m/j 06yrs, Ma’di by tribe;
2. Drago James 9yrs old, Ma’di by tribe;
3. Duku Emmanuel, 7yrs, Kuku by tribe;
4. Amaruma Isaac 11yrs, Ma’di by tribe;
5. Edema Thomas 10yrs, Ma’di by tribe;
6. Mandre Justine 14yrs, Ma’di by tribe.
Meanwhile the 5 victims/survivors still alive receiving treatment at Adjumani Hospital are:
1. Wani Jonathan, 10yrs old Ma’di by tribe;
2. Abao James, 7yrs old;
3. Andruga Dominic, 14yrs old;
4. Bazio Joyce, 12yrs old, a Ma’di.
Further inquiries continue into the matter under Adjumani CRB 97/2021.
However Police observation indicates that these bombs could have been suspectedly left behind in the bushes by former Konyi rebels who infested the area in late 1980s to early 90s as Adjumani District by then was one of the areas habouring the rebels. But then now, coupled with burning of bushes in the dry spell, children are moving around the burnt bushes picking things any how for playing hence exposing them to such incidences.
It is therefore important for members of the community and dealers in scrapt metal business to guard against dealing with suspicious looking metalic objects found in the bushes as they could be bombs. Parents/ Guardians should specifically advice their children not to play anyhow with such suspicious looking metals inorder to prevent such deadly incidences. This more so applies to areas which were formerly habouring rebels. They should instead inform the area authorities, police or army for proper management.
SP Angucia Josephine
Police PRO West Nile/North West Nile Regions
