Multiple bomb blasts rock Maiduguri as Zulum condemns attacks
Multiple bomb explosions in Maiduguri threw residents into panic on Monday evening, hitting key locations including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Monday Market, and the Post Office near the State Specialist Hospital shortly after the Muslim fast. Ambulances were seen rushing to the scenes to evacuate the wounded, though the exact number of casualties and fatalities remained unclear.
The Borno State Police confirmed deployment of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to the affected areas and urged residents to stay calm and avoid the sites while assessments continue. Emergency contact numbers were provided for public assistance.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, currently in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, calling them “despicable, cruel, and cowardly” and targeting innocent civilians during the holy month of Ramadan. Through his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Ilya, Zulum assured citizens that security forces were on top of the situation and that measures had been taken to prevent further breaches. He urged residents to remain calm, continue their daily activities, and report any suspicious movements to authorities.
In the early hours of Monday, a separate attack near the outskirts of the city in Dala, Bulamari, and Ajilari Cross in Konduga Local Government Area triggered two loud explosions followed by sustained gunfire. Heavily armed suspected Boko Haram insurgents engaged in fierce firefights with joint security forces, including the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police Force. The violence forced many residents to flee their homes in fear, with children crying and families carrying what they could as they sought safety.
Sources confirmed that military personnel advised hundreds of residents to temporarily evacuate while security forces repelled the insurgents. Calm gradually returned after troops successfully engaged the attackers. Security sources also reported a coordinated assault in Damboa Local Government Area, which was similarly thwarted by Nigerian security forces.
Governor Zulum expressed sympathy for the victims and reiterated the need for vigilance as military operations continue against insurgent hideouts in Sambisa Forest and other areas, stressing that the surge in attacks is linked to intensified counter-terror operations.
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