Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno State, was rocked by multiple suspected suicide bombings on Monday evening, leaving at least 23 people dead and more than 100 injured in one of the deadliest attacks the city has seen in recent years.
The explosions occurred at three crowded locations: the main market (often referred to as Monday Market), near a post office, and at the entrance to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the blasts hit during iftar, the evening breaking of the fast in the holy month of Ramadan, when many residents were gathered in public areas.
Eyewitness accounts painted a grim picture of the aftermath. One resident recounted rushing to the scene to assist victims and prevent further danger, fearing additional explosions. “We rushed to the scene to help the victims and prevent others from endangering their lives because one bomb had already exploded. We were afraid another might explode,” the witness said. “We succeeded in preventing people from exposing themselves to danger. Later, security personnel arrived and barricaded the area.”
Another described the devastating human toll: “There are so many casualties and a lot of lives lost. As I was walking out, I saw the corpses of people, including one person I know well.”
Residents expressed outrage over the violence. “It is crucial to be aware of what is happening and to take this matter seriously. It is unacceptable for those responsible for killing our parents and relatives to go unpunished,” one local said.
The terrorism attacks came less than 24 hours after the military repelled militia assaults on the outskirts of Maiduguri. Authorities, including military officials, have attributed the bombings to Boko Haram insurgents, warning of an elevated risk of suicide attacks in the final days of Ramadan. No group has officially claimed responsibility.
Security forces responded swiftly, with emergency services and explosives teams deployed to the sites. Heavy security measures have since been implemented across the city. A police spokesperson stated that normalcy has been restored, and a joint operation involving all security agencies is conducting aggressive patrols in Maiduguri municipality to prevent any recurrence.
Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram, has historically been a focal point of the insurgency that began in 2009. While the city had enjoyed relative calm in recent years as fighting shifted to rural areas, the latest violence underscores the persistent threat.
In response, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the country’s security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri and assume direct command of operations to address the situation and bolster security efforts.