At least 23 people have been killed and 108 injured by a series of suspected suicide bombings in Maiduguri, marking one of the worst recent attacks on the capital of Borno state. A post office, a popular weekly market, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital were hit within minutes of each other. The attacks occurred around 19:30 local time, targeting busy areas just after Ramadan fasts had been broken.
The military has attributed the attack to militants from the notorious Boko Haram group, which originated in Maiduguri and has caused significant unrest since its insurgency began in 2009. Security forces had recently been pushing militants into remote areas, and this incident comes as a significant shock to the local populace, who had hoped for a more stable environment.
Witness accounts describe the chaos that ensued as explosions rocked the market, with victims rushing to seek safety. Modu Bukar, a local resident, shared his harrowing experience of hearing an explosion and witnessing the immediate panic. As emergency services respond, President Bola Tinubu condemned the attacks, labeling them 'desperate acts of the evil-minded', and ordered heightened security measures to safeguard the city.
Despite a relative decline in violence compared to previous years, attacks from Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap) have become more frequent, highlighting the ongoing threat that looms over the region. Officials are currently working to reinforce safety across Maiduguri in the wake of these devastating events.
The military has attributed the attack to militants from the notorious Boko Haram group, which originated in Maiduguri and has caused significant unrest since its insurgency began in 2009. Security forces had recently been pushing militants into remote areas, and this incident comes as a significant shock to the local populace, who had hoped for a more stable environment.
Witness accounts describe the chaos that ensued as explosions rocked the market, with victims rushing to seek safety. Modu Bukar, a local resident, shared his harrowing experience of hearing an explosion and witnessing the immediate panic. As emergency services respond, President Bola Tinubu condemned the attacks, labeling them 'desperate acts of the evil-minded', and ordered heightened security measures to safeguard the city.
Despite a relative decline in violence compared to previous years, attacks from Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap) have become more frequent, highlighting the ongoing threat that looms over the region. Officials are currently working to reinforce safety across Maiduguri in the wake of these devastating events.
