At least 23 people were killed and 108 others injured in coordinated bomb explosions in Maiduguri, authorities said Tuesday.
The blasts occurred Monday evening at three locations — the Monday Market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the Post Office flyover — according to police.
Spokesman for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said preliminary investigations indicate the attacks were carried out by suspected suicide bombers using improvised explosive devices.
He said security forces, including police tactical units and the military, were deployed immediately after the explosions. The affected areas were secured and swept by the police explosive ordnance disposal unit to ensure no additional threats remained.
The state commissioner of police, Naziru Abdulmaji, visited the sites to assess the situation and ongoing response efforts, Daso said.
Victims were evacuated by emergency responders, including the National Emergency Management Agency and the State Emergency Management Agency, to hospitals for treatment.
Police said normalcy has been restored in the affected areas, with increased security and surveillance across the city. Investigations are ongoing.
Authorities urged residents to remain calm and report any suspicious activity.
Meanwhile, Babagana Zulum condemned the attacks, describing them as “despicable” and “cowardly,” especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
Zulum, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj, expressed sympathy for the victims and their families and called for heightened vigilance, particularly ahead of the Eid celebrations.
He said the recent rise in attacks may be linked to intensified military operations against insurgents in the Sambisa forest and other strongholds.
The governor assured residents that security agencies are taking steps to prevent further attacks.
