Share and Follow
A devastating series of suicide bombings in Maiduguri, Nigeria, claimed the lives of at least 23 individuals and left over 100 injured, according to officials on Tuesday. The attacks have reignited concerns about ongoing religious persecution, as pointed out by a leader of a Christian nonprofit organization.
These tragic events, reported by the Associated Press, marked one of the most severe assaults on Maiduguri in recent times. Explosions ripped through bustling areas on Monday night, including a major marketplace and the entrance to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, located in the capital city of Borno state.
In a statement, Borno police spokesperson Nahum Kenneth Daso confirmed that the explosion victims suffered “varying degrees of injuries” and attributed the attacks to suspected suicide bombers.
President Bola Tinubu, who embarked on a two-day state visit to the United Kingdom on Tuesday, extended his sympathies to the victims. He also directed security officials to “take charge of the situation” in Maiduguri to prevent further incidents.
In an image showing an armored police vehicle stationed at a market in Maiduguri on March 17, 2026, the aftermath of the coordinated blasts is evident. The attacks, believed to be carried out by suicide bombers, struck a busy market and other key locations in Maiduguri, resulting in significant casualties. Three explosions occurred on the evening of March 16, 2026, shortly after residents broke their Ramadan fasts, targeting a central market, the entrance to the city’s largest teaching hospital, and a post office. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)
“The Monday attacks were desperate acts of the evil-minded terrorist groups,” Tinubu said. “Our gallant military and civilian task forces will curtail and put them down.”
While no group has claimed responsibility, the AP reported suspicion has fallen on the Boko Haram jihadi group, which launched an insurgency in northeastern Nigeria in 2009 to enforce its radical interpretation of Shariah law.
Since launching its insurgency, Boko Haram has grown stronger, with thousands of fighters and multiple factions, some aligned with the Islamic State group.
Funeral for Boko Haram victims in Yobe, Nigeria (Stringer/Reuters)
The explosions on Monday night began at about 7:30 p.m. at the entrance of the teaching hospital. A few minutes later, a second and third blast followed at the Monday Market and a nearby post office hub, both about 2.5 miles from the hospital.
Caleb Jonah, who survived the explosion at the hospital entrance, told the AP he suffered injuries to his legs and hands.
“I was coming to the hospital to check (in on) a patient when I saw two men struggling with the security men at the gate,” Jonah said. “Before I could process what was going on I heard the deafening blast and I passed out.”
Nigerian soldiers drive around in pick-ups during training at a military base in Borno state, Nigeria, on July 5, 2025. Â (Joris Bolomey/AFP via Getty Images)
Brad Brandon, CEO and founder of Across Nigeria, said the attack was personal. His organization is committed to transforming Nigeria and the surrounding regions by sharing the love of God through Jesus Christ, according to the group’s website.
“As the CEO and founder of Across Nigeria, these recent attacks in Maiduguri are personal and a stark reminder that the devastating violence continues in northern Nigeria,” he said in a statement. “This is the result of radical Islamic groups that are allowed to operate unchecked. The only question is, how many more must be killed, before the world wakes up to the genocide that slaughters thousands of Christians every year.”
“We condemn these violent acts and the perpetrators who commit them,” he added. “We also call on the U.S. Government to intervene and the media to embrace their role in bringing light to the hidden things of darkness.”
While Maiduguri has been at the center of deadly violence in Nigeria, it has experienced relative peace in recent years, even as extremists batter the countryside.
Monday’s attack took place less than 24 hours after the Nigerian military repelled attacks by militants outside Maiduguri.
By Tuesday morning, heavy security had been deployed to the affected locations and along major roads.