Bombs explode in northeastern Nigeria, leaving scores killed and injured, authorities say

Multiple bomb explosions rocked northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state on Monday night, resulting in numerous casualties as the region continues to grapple with ongoing insurgency issues.

The blasts occurred at three separate locations in Maiduguri, the state capital, including the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and two busy commercial hubs known locally as Post Office and Monday Market, according to Sirajo Abdullahi, head of operations at Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Maiduguri.

“There are casualties and they are still managing the causalities at the hospital,” Abdullahi told The Associated Press. “We can’t give the actual figure until we count.” Emergency officials indicated the explosions may have been suicide bombings, though no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Eyewitness Bagoni Alkali, who helped transport wounded victims to medical facilities, described a devastating scene. “Right now, over 200 people have been injured and are receiving care in the accident and emergency department,” Alkali said. “While I could tell you so many people have died, to be honest, many lost their lives at the scene immediately after the bomb exploded. It’s disheartening.”

Mohammed Hassan, a volunteer who assists security forces in countering extremist groups, reported retrieving ten bodies from the Post Office and Monday Markets. “Many victims were rushed to the emergency ward, but some died at the hospital. We’re in dire need of blood,” he said, adding that this attack has been “one of the deadliest in Maiduguri in years.”

Earlier on Monday, the Nigerian military had issued a statement claiming they successfully repelled attacks by suspected Islamic militants on the outskirts of Maiduguri. This latest violence comes amid what appears to be an uptick in militant activity in the region.

Maiduguri, which has been at the epicenter of Nigeria’s 17-year struggle with extremist armed groups, has experienced relatively fewer attacks in recent years due to intensified military operations. However, the city remains vulnerable as Boko Haram and its splinter factions continue their campaign of violence throughout Nigeria’s northeastern regions.

Boko Haram, a homegrown jihadist group that pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2015 before splintering into factions, has waged an insurgency for more than a decade. The conflict has claimed over 35,000 lives and displaced approximately two million people across the Lake Chad region.

This month has seen an increase in attacks targeting Nigeria’s military bases in the northeast, with jihadi extremist groups, including Boko Haram and its factions, being blamed for the escalating violence. These attacks represent a significant challenge to the Nigerian government’s claims of making progress against the insurgency.

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum issued a statement condemning the explosions “in the strongest terms.”

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those injured as a result of the blast. The act is utterly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane,” Zulum said. He urged residents to remain calm, continue their normal activities, and report any suspicious movements to security agencies.

The bombings highlight the persistent security challenges facing Africa’s most populous nation. Nigeria continues to battle complex security crises on multiple fronts, with the northern regions particularly affected by various armed groups, including bandits, separatists, and jihadists.

Despite the Nigerian government’s insistence that it has technically defeated Boko Haram, the group and its offshoots continue to demonstrate the capacity to carry out deadly attacks, particularly in rural areas and occasionally in urban centers like Maiduguri.

International organizations have repeatedly called for more coordinated regional efforts to address the root causes of extremism in the Lake Chad Basin, including poverty, environmental degradation, and limited economic opportunities, which provide fertile ground for recruitment by militant groups.