Esther Oseyiomon
Multiple suicide bomb explosions struck parts of Maiduguri on Monday evening, leaving several casualties and triggering emergency response operations across the metropolis.
The attacks occurred at about 7:05 p.m. during the Iftar period when Muslims were breaking their fast, a time when many public areas were crowded.
Military authorities said the explosions were carried out by suspected members of Boko Haram who detonated improvised explosive devices at different locations within the city.
According to the Operation Hadin Kai Joint Task Force, the blasts occurred around the Post Office area, the busy Monday Market axis and the entrance to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, working with the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and other security agencies, swiftly secured and cordoned off the affected locations.
Emergency responders from the National Emergency Management Agency and medical personnel evacuated injured victims to the General Hospital, Specialist Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Preliminary reports indicated that the attackers may have deployed multiple suicide bombers into the city to carry out coordinated attacks aimed at causing mass casualties and panic.
Security patrols, surveillance and counter-IED measures have since been intensified across Maiduguri as authorities urged residents to remain calm, stay vigilant and report suspicious persons or items to security agencies.