The Nigerian Army has warned residents of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, to remain vigilant and avoid crowded places following intelligence reports suggesting the possible presence of additional suicide bombers in the city after Monday’s deadly attacks that left 23 people dead and 108 others injured.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Media Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Sanni Uba, said the alert came after coordinated suicide bombings at busy public locations during the evening rush.
According to him, the explosions occurred at about 7:05 p.m. on Monday, around the time Muslims were observing Iftar, when attackers detonated improvised explosive devices in crowded areas in what appeared to be an attempt to cause maximum casualties and widespread panic.
Uba described the attacks as cowardly, adding that preliminary intelligence indicates the perpetrators, suspected to be members of Boko Haram, may have deployed multiple suicide bombers into Maiduguri to carry out coordinated strikes.
“Preliminary information further indicates that the terrorists may have deployed multiple suicide bombers into Maiduguri with the intention of carrying out coordinated suicide bombings at crowded locations,” he said.
He further noted that security forces have stepped up surveillance, patrols, and counter-improvised explosive device operations across the city to track down any remaining suspects and prevent further attacks.
Emergency response teams, including officials of the National Emergency Management Agency and medical personnel, evacuated victims to the General Hospital, Specialist Hospital, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where those injured are currently receiving treatment.
The army reassured residents that efforts are ongoing to restore stability but urged the public to stay alert, avoid large gatherings, and promptly report any suspicious movements, unattended items, or unusual activities to security agencies.
