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The Nigerian Army has raised fresh concerns over the presence of multiple suicide bombers in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, warning residents to stay away from crowded places amid heightened security threats.
The alert follows Monday evening’s deadly suicide attacks which claimed 23 lives and left 108 others injured, sending shockwaves across the metropolis.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Media Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sanni Uba, said the coordinated attacks targeted busy public locations in a bid to cause maximum casualties and widespread panic.
“The explosions occurred at about 7:05 p.m. on Monday during the period of Iftar,” the statement said, noting that the attackers were suspected members of Boko Haram who detonated improvised explosive devices in crowded locations.
Describing the incident as “cowardly,” Uba said the attackers deliberately chose peak-hour locations to inflict mass harm on civilians.
He further disclosed that preliminary intelligence suggests that multiple suicide bombers may have been deployed into Maiduguri to carry out coordinated attacks, raising fears of possible additional threats within the city.
“Emergency response teams, including personnel from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other medical service providers, promptly evacuated casualties to the General Hospital, Specialist Hospital, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for urgent medical attention.”
“Preliminary information further indicates that the terrorists may have deployed multiple suicide bombers into Maiduguri with the intention of carrying out coordinated suicide bombings at crowded locations. Security forces have therefore intensified surveillance, patrols, and counter-IED measures across the metropolis to track down any remaining suspects and prevent further attacks,” Sanni said.
Uba assured residents that efforts were ongoing to stabilise the situation, while medical teams continue to treat the injured.
He, however, urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid crowded areas, and promptly report suspicious movements, unattended items, or unusual activities to security agencies.
