The bustling Monday Market in Maiduguri was alive with evening trade when the first blast ripped through the crowd. Shoppers screamed, stalls collapsed, and smoke filled the air. Within minutes, more explosions followed at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital gate and near the Post Office flyover turning the city into a scene of panic and grief.
“I was buying vegetables when everything went black,” said Amina, a mother of three who survived with minor injuries. “People were running, but there was nowhere to run. I saw bodies on the ground. I still hear the cries.”
The Nigerian Army has now confirmed that multiple suicide bombers may have been deployed by Boko Haram terrorists, deliberately targeting crowded areas to maximize casualties. At least 23 people were killed and 108 injured, according to police reports.
Rescue workers rushed victims to General Hospital, Specialist Hospital, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. “We worked through the night,” said Musa, a volunteer medic. “There were so many wounded, and we had to keep going. Some were children.”
Security forces under Operation Hadin Kai have intensified patrols and surveillance across the city, warning residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity. “This was a coordinated attack,” an army spokesperson said. “We are determined to track down those responsible.”
For many survivors, the tragedy is a painful reminder of Maiduguri’s long struggle with insurgency. Yet amid the sorrow, resilience shines through. “We are afraid, but we cannot stop living,” said Ibrahim, a shopkeeper who lost a close friend in the blast. “This is our home. We will not abandon it.”
As Maiduguri buries its dead, the Army’s warning underscores the scale of the threat and the determination of both citizens and security forces to stand firm against terror.
