The Nigerian Army has issued a fresh security alert following coordinated suicide bombings in Maiduguri, Borno State, which claimed at least 23 lives and left 108 others injured.
The attacks, which occurred on Monday evening, struck multiple crowded locations within the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council during the Ramadan fast-breaking period, raising fears of renewed insurgent activity in the North-East.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Northeast Joint Taskforce, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sanni Uba, said the explosions were carried out by suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers at about 7:05 p.m.
He identified the affected areas as the Post Office vicinity, the Monday Market axis, and the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, noting that the incidents appeared carefully coordinated to cause maximum casualties.
According to Uba, the attackers deliberately targeted densely populated areas to spread fear and disrupt normal activities in the city.
“The attacks were aimed at inflicting mass casualties and creating panic among residents,” he said.
He explained that troops, working alongside the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit and other security agencies, swiftly moved in to secure the locations and prevent additional harm.
Emergency responders, including officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, evacuated victims to medical facilities such as the General Hospital, State Specialist Hospital, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for treatment.
The army warned that intelligence reports indicate the possible presence of additional suicide bombers within the city.
Uba said security forces had intensified patrols, surveillance, and counter-IED operations to identify and neutralise any remaining threats, urging residents to stay alert and avoid crowded areas.
Eyewitnesses recounted moments of confusion and panic as the explosions occurred almost simultaneously across different locations.
One resident said several bodies were seen at the scene, while many injured persons were rushed to hospitals.
Another witness described hearing a loud explosion near the Post Office, followed by widespread panic as people fled for safety.
The Head of Operations of the Federal Fire Service in Borno State, Mohammed Kafaran, confirmed that personnel were deployed immediately after the blasts to assist with rescue efforts and assess the situation.
The bombings came hours after suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents launched coordinated attacks on military formations in Ajilari, Damboa, and Baga earlier on Monday.
Security sources said the attackers attempted to infiltrate the areas in the early hours of the day but were repelled by a combined force of military personnel, police officers, and local security groups.
The spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed that the attempted attacks were foiled, stating that no casualties were recorded among security operatives.
He said joint forces responded promptly, engaged the insurgents, and forced them to retreat, adding that the attackers were believed to have suffered losses.
Residents reported hearing gunfire and explosions during the attempted incursions, particularly in Ajilari and parts of Damboa, but authorities said calm had since returned to the affected areas.
The latest attacks come amid growing concerns over renewed insurgent activities in the region.
In a recent incident in Ngoshe, terrorists reportedly overran a military base, killed civilians, and abducted hundreds of residents, further heightening security fears.
Reacting to the Maiduguri bombings, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, condemned the attacks, describing them as inhumane and unacceptable.
In a statement issued through his media aide while on a Lesser Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, the governor expressed condolences to the victims and their families.
“My thoughts are with the victims and their families. This is a condemnable act of violence against innocent people,” he said.
He assured residents that security agencies were taking necessary steps to prevent further attacks and urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also reacting, former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, described the incident as a tragic setback to the relative peace achieved in Borno State.
He expressed sadness over the loss of lives and called for urgent and decisive action to address the resurgence of terrorism.
Kwankwaso urged the Federal Government to strengthen support for the military and other security agencies to enable them to effectively tackle the threat.
A security analyst, Salaudeen Hashim, said the coordinated attacks may have been carried out in retaliation for recent military offensives against insurgent leaders.
He warned that the pattern of attacks showed that terrorist groups still possessed the capacity to launch simultaneous strikes on both civilian and military targets.
According to him, the incidents highlight ongoing vulnerabilities in parts of the North-East, particularly in communities around the Sambisa forest and Lake Chad region.
Meanwhile, the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation condemned the renewed violence, calling for increased support for security agencies and stronger collaboration between authorities and local communities.
The foundation also urged citizens to provide timely and credible information that could assist in preventing further attacks.
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