MAIDUGURI: Military Steps Up Vigilance to Apprehend Culprits, Foil Future Assaults

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MAIDUGURI — The Nigerian Army has announced intensified surveillance and security operations across Maiduguri following multiple suicide bomb explosions that rocked the metropolis on Monday evening.

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The Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), disclosed this in a statement issued by its Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, noting that efforts are underway to track down suspects and forestall further attacks.

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According to the statement, the explosions occurred at about 7:05 p.m. on March 16, 2026, within the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), when suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers detonated improvised explosive devices at three separate locations.

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The affected areas include the Post Office vicinity, Monday Market axis, and the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), all targeted during the Iftar period when residents had gathered in large numbers.

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The Army described the incidents as coordinated attacks aimed at inflicting mass casualties and creating panic among residents.

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“Preliminary information indicates that the terrorists may have deployed multiple suicide bombers into Maiduguri with the intention of carrying out coordinated attacks at crowded locations,” the statement said.

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It added that troops of Operation HADIN KAI, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit and other security agencies, responded swiftly by securing and cordoning off the affected areas to prevent further harm.

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Emergency response teams, including personnel of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other medical services, were said to have evacuated victims to the General Hospital, Specialist Hospital, and UMTH for urgent treatment.

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The Army noted that medical teams are currently attending to the injured across various health facilities, while rescue and evacuation operations are ongoing.

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To prevent a recurrence, security forces have intensified surveillance, patrols, and counter-IED measures across the city.

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Residents have been urged to remain calm but vigilant, avoid crowded places where possible, and promptly report any suspicious movements, objects, or activities to the nearest security agency.

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Operation HADIN KAI also commiserated with families of victims and reassured the public of its commitment, alongside other security agencies, to safeguarding lives and property while pursuing those behind the attacks.

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