23 dead, 108 injured in Maiduguri explosions – Police

By Paul Dada

The Borno State Police Command has confirmed that at least 23 people died and 108 others were injured in the explosions that rocked Maiduguri on Monday evening.

The Command said the blasts occurred at about 7:24 p.m. and are believed to have been carried out by suspected suicide bombers using improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

According to a statement issued on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson,  Nahum Daso, said early findings pointed to multiple attack points across the city. The affected locations include the bustling Maiduguri Central Market, widely known as Monday Market, the entrance to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Post Office Flyover.

The statement claimed security forces responded rapidly, with a joint deployment of Police Tactical Units, military personnel and other operatives dispatched to the scenes. The areas, the statement, said, were promptly sealed off to prevent further danger while specialists from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit carried out detailed sweeps.

Daso said that emergency responders, including the National Emergency Management Agency and the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, evacuated casualties to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Naziru Abdulmajid, visited the affected sites to assess the situation and express sympathy to victims and bereaved families.

The police said security presence has been reinforced across Maiduguri to deter any further attacks while urging residents to remain vigilant, saying they should report any suspicious activity to security agencies.