The Borno State Police Command has confirmed that 23 persons were killed while 108 others sustained injuries following multiple bomb explosions that struck parts of Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday evening.
The blasts reportedly occurred almost simultaneously at the Post Office Flyover, the popular Monday Market Maiduguri, and the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Police spokesperson, Nahum Daso, disclosed the casualty figure in a statement on Tuesday, noting that preliminary findings indicated the attacks were carried out by suspected suicide bombers.
According to him, the explosions occurred at about 7:24pm, leaving several residents dead and many others injured.
Daso explained that following the incident, a joint security team comprising police tactical units, the military and other operatives was immediately deployed to the affected locations to secure the area.
He added that officers from the Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit carried out sweep operations to ensure that no additional explosives were left behind at the scenes.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Naziru Abdulmaji, also visited the affected sites to assess the situation and sympathise with victims and their families while assuring residents of improved security.
Emergency responders, including the National Emergency Management Agency and the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, evacuated the injured victims to hospitals where they are currently receiving treatment.
Reacting to the attack, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj, condemned the incident, describing it as cruel and cowardly, while assuring residents that security agencies were working to prevent further attacks.
