Bombs exploded in at the very least three locations in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state Monday night, killing and injuring scores of individuals, the emergency services told The Associated Press, citing possible suicide bombings.
Explosions were heard in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, where Nigeria’s homegrown jihadi Boko Haram extremists have waged an insurgency for greater than a decade.
The blasts occurred at the doorway of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and two local markets, often called Post Office and the Monday Market, in keeping with Sirajo Abdullahi, head of operations at Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency, or NEMA, in Maiduguri.
“There are casualties they usually are still managing the casualties on the hospital,” Abdullahi said. “We will’t give the actual figure until we count.”
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the suspected bombings.
The Nigerian military said in a press release earlier it had repelled attacks by suspected Islamic militants within the early hours of Monday on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
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For years, Nigeria has been battling a posh security crisis from different armed groups, especially within the northern a part of the country.
Jihadi extremist groups, including Boko Haram and considered one of its factions, have been blamed for intensified attacks targeting Nigeria’s military bases within the northeast of the country this month. But attacks in Maiduguri in Borno state, which is the epicenter of Nigeria’s 17-year struggle with extremist armed groups, have been rare lately after military operations.
Bagoni Alkali, an eyewitness to the blast, told The Associated Press he brought wounded people to the hospital for emergency treatment.
“Right away, over 200 people have been injured and are receiving care within the accident and emergency department,” Alkali said.
“While I could inform you so many individuals have died, to be honest, many lost their lives on the scene immediately after the bomb exploded. It’s disheartening,” he added.
Mohammed Hassan, a member of a volunteer group that usually assists the safety forces within the conflict against armed extremists, said he evacuated 10 bodies from the Post Office and Monday Markets.
“Many victims were rushed to the emergency ward, but some died on the hospital. We’re in dire need of blood,” he said. “This attack’s been considered one of the deadliest in Maiduguri in years.”
Borno’s Governor Babagana Umara Zulum said in a press release Monday he condemned within the strongest terms the explosions.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and people injured because of this of the blast. The act is utterly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane,” Zulum said.
He called on residents to stay calm, go about their usual activities and report any suspicious movement or activity to security agencies.
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