Residents of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital and neighbouring communities have been warned against picking strange particles from the ground as some have been confirmed to be unexploded ordnance.
The warning follows the multiple explosions which rocked the Giwa Barracks armoury at 11:30pm on Wednesday night.
Several communities where thrown into panic as residents scrambled for safety amid a series of loud bangs and visible flames.
The Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, gave the warning while addressing newsmen shortly after an on-the-spot assessment of the scene, urging residents, particularly those in Jiddari Polo, Fori, and other nearby settlements, to exercise caution and report any suspicious items to security operatives.
According to the Military, the explosions were triggered by high temperatures.
His words: “This warning has become necessary because some fragments and unexploded ordnance were dispersed during the explosions. These objects may appear harmless but could pose serious risks if tampered with,” he stated.
The Theatre Commander, who was accompanied by top military officials including the Commanding Officer of the 73 Battalion, Lt Col N. Dalha, and the Joint Investigation Centre (JIC) Commander, Colonel Ahmad, expressed concern over the extent of damage to the armoury.
He disclosed that the only armoury facility within the Giwa Barracks was completely gutted by fire, despite spirited efforts by soldiers and personnel of the Federal and State Fire Services to contain the inferno.
Abubakar, however, lauded the gallantry of the troops and the swift response by emergency responders, which he said prevented further escalation of the situation.
He appealed to the general public to remain calm, assuring that the situation had been brought under control and that there was no cause for alarm.