Relatives of individuals who reportedly visited any of the three locations affected by the recent bomb blasts in Maiduguri, Borno State, have begun searching for their loved ones following the deadly incident.
No fewer than 23 people were killed and 108 others injured on Monday evening after three explosions rocked parts of the city. The attacks, believed to have been carried out by suspected suicide bombers, occurred at the Post Office Flyover, the Monday Market axis, and the entrance of the University Teaching Hospital in Maiduguri.
The police have confirmed the attacks and stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said security operatives swiftly secured the affected areas.
“The scenes were immediately secured, cordoned off, and subjected to thorough sweep operations by Police Explosive Ordnance (EOD) Unit Base 13 Maiduguri to rule out the presence of any additional threats,” he said.
Daso further disclosed that authorities have begun receiving reports from families searching for missing relatives. He explained that the police are working closely with community leaders, including ward heads, to gather information and assist affected families.
“What we are doing is that we are using Bulamas (ward heads) and other community leaders. We are in contact with them, incase if there are any reports.
“So far, I am very sure the divisional police stations have received complaints from families,”
He urged families who have not yet located their relatives to report to the nearest police station or contact their ward heads, noting that some victims sustained severe injuries that made identification difficult.
“We are calling on families who haven’t found their loved relatives to visit the nearest police station to make a report because some of the victims were severely injured beyond recognition,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, has condemned the attacks, describing them as “despicable, cruel, and cowardly,” especially as they targeted innocent civilians during the holy month of Ramadan.
Zulum, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, expressed his condolences in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya.
“I am deeply saddened by the explosions that occurred in parts of the metropolis on Monday evening.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those injured as a result of the blast. The act is utterly condemnable, barbaric, and inhumane,” he said.
The governor linked the recent surge in attacks to intensified military operations in insurgent strongholds, including the Sambisa forest, and assured residents that security agencies are taking steps to prevent further incidents.
“The recent surge in attacks is not unconnected with intense military operations in the Sambisa forest and other hideouts of the insurgents,” he added.
He also called for increased vigilance and enhanced security measures, particularly in places of worship, as the festive period approaches.
The latest incident marks another in a series of attacks carried out by террорист groups targeting civilian populations across Borno State.
