Barely 24 hours after suspected Boko Haram fighters attacked Ajilari community on the outskirts of Maiduguri, a wave of coordinated explosions has struck the city, leaving at least 23 people dead and 108 others injured.
Three explosions rocked Maiduguri on Monday evening at about 7:15 p.m., with a confirmed report to Gmartnews team indicating the blasts occurred near the Post Office area in the city centre, at Monday Market, and at the main gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
The incidents triggered panic across the state capital, coming so soon after the Ajilari attack and raising fears of a coordinated escalation.
Authorities have confirmed that the explosions were carried out by suspected suicide bombers using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), marking a deadly turn in the renewed violence.
Police spokesperson, ASP Nahum Kenneth-Daso, in a statement released Tuesday, said preliminary investigations revealed that 23 persons lost their lives, while 108 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“Following the devastating suspected suicide IED explosions that occurred at about 1924HRS on 16th March, 2026… a total of twenty three (23) persons lost their lives, while one hundred and eight (108) others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” he said.
In the immediate aftermath, a combined team of police tactical units, the military, and other joint security operatives were deployed to the affected areas. The scenes were secured, cordoned off, and swept by the Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit to rule out further threats.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, visited the affected locations for an on-the-spot assessment, commiserating with victims and their families while assuring residents of the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property.
Emergency responders, including the National Emergency Management Agency and the State Emergency Management Agency, evacuated victims to medical facilities where they are currently receiving treatment.
Authorities say normalcy has now been restored across Maiduguri, although security presence has been heightened, with increased surveillance aimed at preventing further attacks.
