The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, has revealed that two suspected suicide bombers are still at large following a series of explosions that rocked Maiduguri, raising fresh security concerns in the state capital.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Pidgin, the governor said intelligence reports indicate that five suicide bombers infiltrated the city, out of which three have already detonated their improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
According to Zulum, security agencies are currently searching for the remaining two suspects whose locations remain unknown.
“The intelligence we have received indicates that five suicide bombers infiltrated Maiduguri. So far, three have detonated their IEDs, while the whereabouts of the remaining two are still being investigated,” the governor said.
Earlier reports indicated that three explosions occurred in different parts of Maiduguri, leaving over 100 residents injured and at least 23 people dead.
The coordinated nature of the attacks has raised fears of a renewed wave of insurgent activity in the region.
Meanwhile, Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, disclosed that some of the explosive devices were allegedly transported using tricycles in order to evade security checks within the city.
Governor Zulum urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid crowded places, particularly during the ongoing Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
He explained that insurgents often infiltrate urban areas when military operations intensify in strongholds such as the Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad region.
The governor also noted that the rapidly growing population of Maiduguri—estimated between three and four million residents—poses additional challenges for security agencies attempting to effectively screen movements within the city.
Despite the attacks, Zulum maintained that security efforts in Borno State have significantly improved compared to previous years, assuring residents that additional measures have been implemented to prevent further incidents.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly directed security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri to coordinate operations aimed at restoring calm in the state.
Security agencies have since intensified surveillance across the city as authorities continue efforts to track down the remaining suspects and prevent further attacks.
