Less than 24 hours after suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Ajilari community on the outskirts of Maiduguri, three explosions shook the city on Monday evening, spreading panic among residents.
Preliminary reports indicate that the blasts occurred near the Post Office area, the main gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and potentially at the Monday Market, though the latter remains unconfirmed. The explosions reportedly occurred around 7:15 p.m., creating chaos in the affected areas.
Amateur footage showed victims being evacuated to hospitals for medical attention.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed the incidents at the hospital gate and Post Office area, noting that casualty figures were still sketchy as victims were being taken to multiple medical facilities.
A media aide to the Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Dauda Iliya, told AFP that authorities were working to confirm casualties from the Monday explosions. An AFP reporter at the hospital observed dozens of wounded individuals seeking treatment.
Earlier, suspected jihadists also launched an overnight attack on a Nigerian military post on the outskirts of Maiduguri. Another attack occurred in the Damboa local government area, south of the city.
Boko Haram and its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have recently intensified attacks in the North-East, contributing to a 16-year insurgency that has killed over 40,000 people and displaced around two million.
This incident is among at least five major explosions reported in Borno State in the past six months, including attacks on markets, mosques, and military convoys. In December 2025, an explosion at a mosque in Gamboru Market killed at least five people, while a June 2025 attack in Konduga town resulted in additional casualties.
Governor Zulum has previously raised alarm over the use of drones by insurgents, describing it as a frightening escalation in the militants’ capabilities. Speaking in Mafa town after a drone attack on a military formation in Dikwa, he urged the Federal Government to address the proliferation of armed drones among non-state actors.
The recent explosions underscore the continued security challenges in Maiduguri and the broader North-East region, as residents and authorities grapple with the persistent threat from Boko Haram and ISWAP.
