Triple suicide bombings rock Maiduguri as police clear explosion sites

The Borno State Police Command has confirmed that three locations in Maiduguri were targeted by suspected suicide bombers on Monday evening, with clearance operations currently underway at all affected sites.

ASP Nahum Daso, the command’s Public Relations Officer, identified the scenes as the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri Monday Market, and the Post Office Flyover.

He stated that the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit is actively conducting clearance operations at these locations.

“Ongoing clearance operations by the Borno State Police Command EOD Unit at (1) University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, (2) Maiduguri Monday Market, and (3) Post Office Flyover following three suspected suicide bomb incidents,” the statement read. “Normalcy has been restored.”

The police spokesperson urged members of the public to remain vigilant amid the security situation.

Earlier unconfirmed reports indicated that an unspecified number of people lost their lives and many others sustained injuries in the blasts.

Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum, currently in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, has strongly condemned the attack.

Describing it as “despicable, cruel and cowardly,” the governor noted that the bombings deliberately targeted innocent civilians during the holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Dauda Iliya, Zulum called for enhanced vigilance and security measures, particularly around places of worship as the festive period approaches.

“I am deeply saddened by the explosions that occurred in parts of the metropolis on Monday evening,” Zulum said. “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.”

The governor attributed the recent surge in attacks to intensified military operations against insurgents, stating it was “not unconnected with intense military operations in the Sambisa Forest and other hideouts of the insurgents.”

Zulum assured residents that security agencies are managing the situation and that adequate measures have been implemented to prevent further breaches in Maiduguri and across the state.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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