Explosions Rock Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri

Residents of Maiduguri, Borno State capital, were thrown into panic in the early hours of Thursday following multiple explosions at the Giwa Military Barracks.

The blasts, which reportedly began around 12:05 a.m., were accompanied by flashes of red light and loud booms that shook the surrounding neighborhoods. Eyewitnesses say the explosions appeared to be coming from the armoury section of the military facility.

Videos and accounts from locals, including a resident identified as Rakiya Garba, revealed the swift response of fire service personnel as sirens echoed through the area. “We are safe, but we are in fear. The explosion is coming from inside the barracks. It is not an attack because we are not hearing gunshots. However, it has been a sporadic explosion,” she said.

In response to rising public concern and speculation about a possible terror attack, the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Dr. Umar Kadafur, issued a statement clarifying the incident. According to him, the explosions were the result of a fire outbreak at the armoury within Giwa Barracks, not an assault by insurgents.

Dr. Kadafur urged residents to remain calm and indoors, assuring them that security operatives had brought the situation under control. “It is not a Boko Haram attack. The fire caused explosions from stored munitions,” he said.

The state government and military authorities are expected to conduct a full investigation into the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage.