Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
As the residents of Maiduguri, Borno State are trying to recover from the bomb blast that rocked the state on Monday, the Nigerian Army said that there is every likelihood that there could still be more suicide bombers lurking around in the neighborhoods.
Truth Live News Media reports that the state was hit on Monday by deadly bombs and 23 deads were recorded while over 100 persons were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries from the blast.
The spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sanni Uba, disclosed this in a statement made available to Journalists in the state.
The Army said preliminary intelligence suggests that terrorist elements may have infiltrated the city with plans to carry out further coordinated attacks.
According to the military, the explosions—suspected to have been carried out using improvised explosive devices by Boko Haram fighters—targeted crowded locations, including the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the Monday Market Roundabout and the Post Office area.
The blasts occurred around 7 p.m., shortly after Muslims broke their fast.
The army said the attacks were aimed at causing mass casualties and spreading panic across the metropolis.
It maintained that security forces have since intensified surveillance, patrols and counter-IED operations to track down any remaining suspects and prevent further incidents.
Residents were urged to remain calm but vigilant, avoid crowded places and promptly report any suspicious persons, unattended items or unusual movements to security agencies.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, working alongside the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and other security agencies, swiftly secured the affected areas and cordoned them off to prevent additional harm.
“Members of the public are therefore urged to remain calm but vigilant, avoid crowded areas where possible and promptly report any suspicious persons, unattended items or unusual activities to the nearest security agency,”
“Operation HADIN KAI commiserates with the families of the victims and assures the public that troops and all security agencies remain fully committed to safeguarding lives and property while relentlessly pursuing terrorist elements responsible for these heinous acts.”
Emergency responders, including personnel from the National Emergency Management Agency and medical teams, evacuated victims to the General Hospital, Specialist Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where the injured are currently receiving treatment.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Naziru Abdulmajid, also visited the blast sites to assess the situation and ongoing response efforts.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, while continuing operations to neutralise those responsible for the attacks.
