An unspecified number of persons were feared killed, while many others sustained injuries following bomb explosions in Maiduguri, Borno State on Monday.
The incident occurred around Monday Market in Maiduguri, and near a security post at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
It was gathered that the bombs detonated simultaneously at about 7.02 pm, hours after suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched simultaneous attacks on three military positions across the state.
Confirming the Monday evening bomb explosion, Head of Operations of the Federal Fire Service in Borno State, Mohammed Kafaran, said the agency had deployed its personnel to the scene.
He said, “Yes, there was a bomb explosion at the Monday Market area around Elkanemi. We have deployed our team there to assess the situation. We will get back to you shortly.”
Eyewitnesses said that many of the injured victims had been evacuated to hospitals for treatment.
“There were dead bodies on the ground, and many persons with wounds have been rushed to the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri,” one witness said.
Another resident, who demanded anonymity, recounted the moment the explosion occurred.
“I had just left the post office and was on my way when I heard a loud sound,” the resident said.
As of the time of filing this report, emergency responders had moved to the scene of the bomb explosion for rescue and assessment operations.
The bomb explosion came after suspected Boko Haram terrorists in the early hours of Monday launched a simultaneous attack on three military positions across the state.
It was gathered that the terrorists targeted the military outposts in Ajilari, Damboa, and Baga at exactly 12:35 am before security reinforcement repelled the attacks.
On the Ajilari attack, residents who spoke to The PUNCH confirmed sporadic shooting and a suspected bomb blast, which caused smoke in the atmosphere.
The spokesperson of the state police command, ASP Nahum Daso, who confirmed the attack to The PUNCH, said, “Combined security operatives, including troops from the land and air components of Operation Hadin Kai, the Police, and the Civilian Joint Task Force, repelled the attack.
“Yes, there was a suspected terrorist attack in Ajilari. As at this time, I can confirm that the attack has been foiled by combined security operatives, including police, military, hunters, civilian joint taskforce, and civil defence.”
In a statement after the attacks, the spokesperson said there were no casualties on the part of security operatives.
The statement read, “Following widespread reports of sporadic gunshots and explosions which raised public concern and attracted attention, the Borno State Police Command wishes to clarify that the incidents were a result of attempted infiltrations by suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists at Ajilari Cross, Kofa area of outskirt Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Damboa -Maiduguri road, Damboa Local Government Area.
“The incidents occurred on 16th March 2026 at about 0000hrs in Ajilari Cross, Kofa and 0100hrs along the Damboa–Maiduguri road axis in Damboa LGA, when suspected terrorists attempted to infiltrate the areas.”
He continued, “In a swift and coordinated response, joint security operatives, who were already on heightened alert, engaged the insurgents and successfully repelled the attacks, forcing the terrorists to retreat.”
He said the insurgents were believed to have suffered casualties and injuries, though the exact figures are yet to be confirmed.
He, however, called on members of the public to remain calm and desist from sharing unverified information.
Residents also confirmed that the atmosphere is currently calm.
A resident of Maiduguri, Sani Kidda, said, “Everywhere is calm now, and the tension has reduced.”
On the Damboa attack, our correspondent gathered that the terrorists launched a major attack on the 25 Task Force Brigade, a military camp in the local government.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attack started less than 30 minutes after the suspected Boko Haram ISWAP terrorists attacked Ajilari Cross.
Confirming the Damboa attack in a brief statement on Monday, the spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, did not specify the actual location in the local government, but said the attack was thwarted at 1 am on Monday.
He wrote, “In another separate incident, at about 0100HRS, joint security operatives thwarted a suspected terrorist attack in Damboa LGA. Normalcy has been restored, and more details are underway.”
However, details of the attack were sketchy at the time of filing this report, but residents confirmed sporadic shooting near a military base in the LGA.
A resident, who did not want to be identified, told our correspondent that the terrorist made an attempt to infiltrate the town through the 25 Task Force Brigade before they were denied access with heavy resistance.
The source said, “It was a horrible night. When we heard that terrorists were attempting to infiltrate the military camp. The news quickly spread. Thank God for the effort of our gallant troops.”
The attacks took place simultaneously with the one in Baga, where sources said the terrorists engaged troops at the Baga military base.
When contacted for comments, the Media Information Officer, Joint Taskforce, Northeast Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col Sanni Uba, neither picked up nor returned the call.
The attacks are coming two weeks after terrorists stormed and burned down a military base in Ngoshe, killing civilians and abducting over 300 residents.
Less than 48 hours after the attack, a group, identified as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, claimed responsibility for the attack, vowing to extend the terror activities to Maiduguri and Abuja, the nation’s capital.
In a one-minute, thirty-second video obtained by our correspondent, the group, comprising five men, said they were determined to claim the territory and rename it.
Speaking in Hausa on behalf of the group, one of them claimed that men and women were beheaded as a result of the attack.
He said, “In the name of Allah, the most merciful and most beneficial.
“We Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad under the leadership of Imam Ubu Umaima, thank God Almighty for helping us to succeed in our mission in Ngoshe. Today, we are inside the Central mosque in Ngoshe. People in this town are saying that we cannot conquer Ngoshe. With the help of God, we have already conquered the town.
“We are not going to stop only in Ngoshe. We will attack Maiduguri and proceed to Abuja.”