The Nigerian Army has warned residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to remain vigilant and avoid crowded places following intelligence reports indicating the possible presence of additional suicide bombers in the city after Monday’s deadly attacks that killed 23 people and injured 108 others.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Media Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sanni Uba, said the alert followed coordinated suicide bombings carried out at busy public locations during the evening rush.
According to him, the explosions occurred at about 7:05 p.m. on Monday, around the time Muslims were observing Iftar, when the attackers detonated improvised explosive devices in crowded areas in an apparent attempt to cause maximum casualties and widespread panic.
Uba described the attacks as cowardly, noting that preliminary intelligence suggests the perpetrators, believed to be members of Boko Haram, may have deployed multiple suicide bombers into Maiduguri to execute coordinated strikes.
“Preliminary information further indicates that the terrorists may have deployed multiple suicide bombers into Maiduguri with the intention of carrying out coordinated suicide bombings at crowded locations,” he said.
He added that security forces have intensified surveillance, patrols and counter-improvised explosive device operations across the metropolis to track down any remaining suspects and prevent further attacks.
Emergency response teams, including officials of the National Emergency Management Agency and medical personnel, evacuated victims to the General Hospital, Specialist Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where the injured are receiving treatment.
The Army assured residents that efforts were ongoing to stabilise the security situation but urged the public to stay alert, avoid large gatherings and immediately report suspicious movements, unattended items or unusual activities to security agencies.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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