Family Fleeing Terror in Katsina Faces Suspicion After Abuja School Explosion

A family displaced by banditry in Katsina State is now grappling with suspicion from their neighbors in Kuchibuyi, an Abuja community, following a tragic explosion at a local Islamic school. The incident, which occurred at the Tsangayar Sani Uthman Islamic School in the Bwari Area Council, has left the community shaken and questioning the newcomers’ intentions.

The explosion, caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), killed two people and injured two others, including a 13-year-old girl from the family of Ilyasu, who had fled their hometown of Masgaba in Kankara Local Government Area eight years ago. Police investigations revealed that three visitors from Katsina had brought the explosive device to the school, killing two of them instantly and critically injuring the third, who is now hospitalized.

Authorities have detained Adamu Ashimu, the school’s owner, for interrogation. The FCT police spokesperson confirmed that the bomb squad recovered remnants of the IED and is continuing its investigation. While no group has claimed responsibility, suspicions have been heightened by the use of explosives in the area, a tactic commonly associated with armed groups in northern Nigeria.

The family of Ilyasu, who have lived in Kuchibuyi for a decade, now faces mistrust from their Gbagyi neighbors, the dominant ethnic group in the area. Adding to their anguish, their 13-year-old daughter was injured in the explosion while selling awara (soybean cake) near the school. Witnesses say the explosive detonated after being toyed with by Almajiri students, leaving behind shattered classrooms and blood-stained sandals.

The girl’s mother, Murja Ilyasu, recounted how the explosion injured her daughter and killed two relatives, including a 22-year-old and a nine-year-old boy. The injured girl is receiving treatment at Kubwa General Hospital, while the other injured student is being treated at Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital.

The tragedy has left the family in a state of double suffering. Not only are they mourning their lost relatives, but they are also facing delays in burying their dead due to ongoing police investigations. The fathers of the deceased boys, who traveled from Katsina to Abuja upon hearing the news, expressed frustration over the authorities’ refusal to release the bodies for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.

The police have indicated that the explosive device was brought to Kuchibuyi by the Almajiri students from Katsina, a claim the family disputes. They insist their children came for Quranic studies, as they had done in previous years without incident. A family member pointed out that the students had arrived three days earlier for religious education under the guidance of Mr. Ashimu, the school owner.

Despite the lack of evidence implicating Mr. Ashimu, the head of Kuchibuyi, Isiaka Dauda, has vowed to end the Almajiri system in the community, citing concerns over security. This decision comes against the backdrop of previous violent incidents in the area, including kidnappings and killings by bandits. The community has faced recurring attacks, with vigilantes playing a key role in preventing further violence.