Several people were injured on Monday evening after explosions tore through parts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, hitting locations near a busy market and a university teaching hospital.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication that covers the Lake Chad region, one of the blasts went off at the Maiduguri Monday Market shortly after iftar, at around 7 p.m.
A second explosion struck near the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Footage obtained by First Daily showed bloodied victims being rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment.
Some of the injured were transported in tricycles and could be seen sitting on the ground with blood stains covering their bodies.
Borno State Police spokesperson Nahum Daso confirmed the attacks in a statement posted on X on Monday night.
“Following reports of suspected explosions at Maiduguri Monday Market and the UMTH gate at about 7:20pm, joint security operatives and emergency responders have been deployed,” Daso wrote.
READ ALSO:Â Dozens Killed as Explosion Hits Zamfara Highway
“Police EOD Unit, Base 13 Maiduguri, is on ground. Residents are advised to remain calm and avoid the area while assessments continue.”
In a follow-up post at around 9:44 p.m., Daso said the police bomb disposal unit had begun clearance operations at the teaching hospital, the Monday Market and the post office flyover, all locations affected by the blasts.
“Normalcy has been restored. Residents of Maiduguri are advised to remain calm and maintain vigilance,” he posted.
Mohammed Kafaran, head of operations of the Federal Fire Service in Borno, also confirmed the explosions, saying the agency had dispatched its team to the scene.
“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,” Kafaran told PUNCH.
The attacks came during the holy month of Ramadan, striking just as residents were breaking their fast, adding to the sense of shock and outrage across the city.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts as of the time of this report.