At least 23 people have been killed and more than 100 injured following multiple suicide bomb attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State, authorities have confirmed.
The explosions, carried out by suspected Boko Haram militants, struck several locations on Monday evening, including the Maiduguri Monday Market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Post Office Flyover area.
Police spokesperson Nahum Kenneth Daso said preliminary investigations indicate the attacks were executed by suicide bombers.
“Regrettably, a total of twenty-three (23) persons lost their lives, while one hundred and eight (108) others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” he said.
However, local sources suggested the death toll could be higher, with some estimates placing fatalities at over 30.
A survivor, identified as Mala Mohammed, described the chaotic scene following the initial blasts.
He said two explosions were heard at first, triggering panic as people fled the market. Moments later, another attacker reportedly ran into a crowd near the Post Office area and detonated an explosive device.
Emergency responders, including the Nigerian Red Cross Society, evacuated victims to hospitals across the city, where dozens of injured persons are receiving treatment.
An eyewitness at a medical facility reported seeing several bodies laid outside while injured victims were being attended to.
Authorities said normalcy has been restored in the affected areas, with increased deployment of security personnel and heightened surveillance to prevent further attacks.
The bombings occurred just hours after suspected insurgents launched an हमला on a military post in Ajilari Cross, near Maiduguri airport. Another attempted attack was also reported in Damboa Local Government Area.
Governor Condemns Attack
Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the attacks, describing them as “barbaric.”
He linked the resurgence of violence to intensified military operations in the Sambisa Forest, a long-standing stronghold of Boko Haram fighters.
The incident marks a worrying escalation of insecurity in Nigeria’s North-East, a region that had experienced relative calm in recent years.
