Maiduguri Blasts Claim 23 Lives, Over 100 Injured as Security Tightened

The police in Maiduguri have confirmed that 23 people were killed and 108 others injured following a series of coordinated explosions that struck the city on Monday evening.
According to authorities, the attacks occurred around 7:24 p.m. and targeted busy and strategic locations, including the Maiduguri Monday Market, the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Post Office Flyover.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer in Borno State, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, said preliminary investigations indicate that suspected suicide bombers carried out the attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Security officials described the incidents as coordinated, noting that the near-simultaneous explosions across different parts of the city point to evolving tactics by insurgent groups aimed at disrupting ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the North-East.
The choice of locations—a major market, a hospital area, and a busy flyover—was said to be deliberate, with the aim of causing maximum casualties, instilling fear, and disrupting economic activities.
Following the blasts, a joint team of police tactical units, military personnel, and other security operatives was deployed to the affected areas. The locations were secured, while the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit conducted sweep operations to detect any additional devices.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, visited the scenes of the attacks, expressing condolences to victims and their families, and assuring residents of strengthened security measures.
Emergency responders, including the National Emergency Management Agency and the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, worked with medical teams to evacuate the injured to hospitals for treatment.
Authorities say security has been reinforced across Maiduguri, with residents urged to remain calm, stay alert in public places, and report any suspicious activity to security agencies.