Less than 24 hours after suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Ajilari community on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, at least three explosions shook the city, raising fears of escalating violence.
Unconfirmed reports indicate the blasts occurred near the Post Office area, the Monday Market, and the main entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Residents said the explosions caused chaos across the affected areas.
Police Public Relations Officer ASP Nahum Daso confirmed the incidents.
“Yes, there were reports of explosions at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital main gate and Post Office area, but the one at Monday Market, I have no information, but I will get back to you as soon as I have it,” Daso said.
He added that casualty figures remained unclear as victims were being treated in various hospitals across the state.
A media aide to the Borno State Governor, Dauda Iliya, told journalists that “agencies are trying to confirm if there are any casualties” from the blasts at the market and the teaching hospital.
Idris Suleiman Gimba of the National Blood Service Commission confirmed a blast near the Post Office, emphasizing the ongoing confusion and fear among residents.
Earlier, suspected jihadists launched an overnight attack on a Nigerian military post on Maiduguri’s outskirts. Another attack was reported in the Damboa local government area, south of the city.
Maiduguri, a key northeastern city, has largely avoided such large-scale attacks in recent years. However, fighters from Boko Haram and the rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have intensified assaults across Borno and neighboring states.
The insurgency, now over 16 years old, has claimed more than 40,000 lives and displaced approximately two million people.
Borno State has experienced multiple deadly blasts in the past year, including:
Last year, a mosque explosion at Gamboru Market during Maghrib prayers killed at least five people.
A female suicide bomber detonated explosives at Tashan Kifi fish market in Konduga.
An IED explosion along the Maiduguri–Damboa Road killed seven commuters travelling on a military-escorted convoy.
Governor Babagana Zulum has repeatedly raised alarm over escalating threats, particularly following reports of Boko Haram deploying drones to attack military formations in the region.
“One thing I want to comment on is the issue of drones. This is frightening. The proliferation of drones, particularly in the hands of non-state actors, is of great concern for the entire country. We have to do something to stop the rampant use of armed drones,” Zulum said during a visit to Mafa town last year.
