Residents of Kuchibuyi community, a suburb of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called for improved security networks to avert terrorist attacks following last Monday’s bomb explosion in the area.

Two children died, while others got injured in the blast, which rocked an Islamiya school in the community as workers resumed fully for the year.

The incident also left the community reeling, as they suspected that the explosion was a direct terrorist attack.

The residents called for swift action to prevent further tragedies and ensure their safety, stressing escalating tensions in the community since the arrival of the Almajiris four years ago.

Recounting the history leading to the event, an eyewitness, Usman Yahaya, said four years ago, a group of Almajiris, himself included, migrated from Masgaba, a village in Kankara Local Council of Katsina State to settle in Kuchibuyi because of insecurity.

According to him, the community, with government support, built a school three years ago to serve as both an Islamiya and a residence for the Almajiris.

He said the school’s operations involved a rotation of teachers, allowing them to balance teaching with farming and family responsibilities.

However, last year, Yahaya said the community noticed something unusual when an unfamiliar teacher arrived and attempted to take over the school from a teacher-trusted by the community.

He said a few days after, the trusted teacher abruptly left with his students without informing anyone, only to return with new students, all reportedly under the age of 15.

“On the day of the explosion the children were playing with an object and striking it with stones.

“It started to smoke and then exploded, killing two children, including a young girl selling tofu nearby,” he said.

But a community member, who pleaded anonymity, believed that it was a divine intervention meant to expose further evil plans.

According to him, security personnel at the scene revealed that the children were playing with a substance suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), likely made with locally sourced materials such as fertilizer and cassava.

Reacting, the District head of Kuchibuyi, Isiyaka Dauda, expressed grief and concern over the death of the two innocent children.

“I believe an adult must have hidden it for malicious purposes. Since welcoming these people, we’ve faced many criminal activities. I have once been kidnapped, and these bandits have overpowered our security operatives.

“I am appealing to the government to provide a police station to help curtail these issues. As for the Almajiris, they will have to leave my community,” he said.

The Emir of Bwari, Awal Musa Ijakoro, who visited the scene, consoled the community and the Islamiya school leadership over the incident.

He confirmed that the FCT Commissioner of Police and the Area Commander had also visited, and assured residents that measures would be taken to improve security in Kuchibuyi.