Terror Strikes
Maiduguri: A City Shaken but Defiant
Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, was plunged into chaos on Monday evening as multiple explosions ripped through crowded areas, leaving 23 people dead and 146 others injured.
The attacks, carried out with improvised explosive devices allegedly planted by suspected ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists, struck at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the Post Office area, and the bustling Monday Market around 7:00pm.
The timing of the blasts, during the Ramadan fast-breaking period, magnified the tragedy.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and devastation as victims lay scattered, many with severe injuries, while emergency responders rushed to evacuate the wounded to nearby hospitals.
Authorities swiftly deployed the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit to secure affected sites. Police spokesperson Nahum Daso urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, stressing that investigations and security assessments were ongoing. Emergency hotlines were released to encourage citizens to report suspicious activity.
Governor Babagana Zulum, currently in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, condemned the attacks as “despicable, cruel and cowardly.” He attributed the surge in violence to intensified military operations against insurgents in Sambisa Forest and other hideouts, assuring residents that security agencies were working to prevent further incidents.
The explosions underscore the persistent threat of insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, even as Operation Hadin Kai and allied forces continue to repel terrorist infiltration attempts.
For Maiduguri, a city that has endured years of insurgent violence, the tragedy is a grim reminder of the fragility of peace.
Yet, amid grief and fear, the governor’s call for resilience and vigilance reflects a community determined not to be broken by terror.
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