At least 23 people have been killed and more than 100 others injured following a series of suspected suicide bomb attacks in Maiduguri, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The attacks, which occurred on Monday night, targeted crowded locations across the city, including a major market and the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. The incident is being described as one of the deadliest in the conflict-affected region in recent years.
According to residents and emergency responders, at least three explosions rocked different parts of the city, causing panic and widespread casualties.
Confirming the incident, Borno State Police spokesperson, Nahum Kenneth Daso, said the attacks were carried out by suspected suicide bombers.
“Regrettably, a total of 23 persons lost their lives, while 108 others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” he said in a statement.
No group has officially claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, suspicion has fallen on Boko Haram, which has led a violent insurgency in northeastern Nigeria since 2009, seeking to impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Over the years, the group has evolved into multiple factions, including the Islamic State West Africa Province, which maintains links with the global Islamic State network.
Maiduguri has long been the epicentre of the insurgency, though the city has experienced relative calm in recent times compared to rural areas that continue to face frequent attacks.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and urgent need for medical support following the blasts.
“This attack’s been one of the deadliest in Maiduguri in years,” said Mohammed Hassan, a member of a civilian volunteer group supporting security forces. “We’re in dire need of blood,” he added.
The latest incident comes amid a resurgence of attacks by extremist groups, particularly targeting military installations. Recent assaults have reportedly led to the deaths of several senior officers, with attackers also seizing weapons and ammunition from military bases.
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