By Musdapha Ilo, Borno State

A man and his daughter have been critically injured after a metal object they were trying to force open exploded in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The man, said to be a staff of the Federal Government College, Maiduguri, but whose name was not given, was said to have found the object believed to be a hand held grenade on Tuesday and was trying to pry it open with a hammer when it exploded, seriously injuring him and his daughter.

A statement issued by the Police in Borno advised residents to desist from picking strange objects indiscriminately from the ground.

“On Friday, the 16th January 2016, a staff of Federal Government College Maiduguri found an object reasonably believed to be hand held grenade, while trying to pry it open with a hammer, the object exploded causing him and his daughter life threatening injuries,” the statement read.

The command’s public relations officer, Victor Isuku, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, who signed the statement noted that a similar incident occurred at Monguno last year. He recalled that the incident led to loss of lives and injury to innocent people.

Isuku called on parents and guardians” to warn their children to desist from any strange objects as it may be an explosive device (IED).”

The police also asked parents to educate their wards to avoid collecting packages or parcels from strangers who may entice them with sweets or money, warning that such parcels may contain an explosive device.