Panic and grief have gripped Borno State following a foiled bomb attack at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where suspected teenage attackers attempted to detonate explosives concealed in a food flask.
Fresh reports reveal that the incident, which occurred on March 16, could have resulted in a far greater tragedy if not for the swift intervention of security personnel stationed at the hospital’s entrance.
According to eyewitness accounts, three teenagers believed to be between 13 and 14 years old arrived at the facility in a tricycle, popularly known as Keke Napep, posing as visitors bringing food to patients. Their appearance and behavior, however, raised suspicion.
A security officer at the hospital, Ali Musa, recounted how the suspects attempted to bypass routine security checks by speeding toward the entrance.
“Normally, visitors slow down for checks, but these boys drove in recklessly. That alone made me suspicious,” he said.
Musa explained that after being stopped and asked to reverse, one of the teenagers hurled the food flask toward him. Moments later, an explosion rocked the entrance.
“I kicked the flask away instinctively. It landed, and seconds later, it exploded. I immediately dropped to the ground,” he said, adding that the blast left him injured.
The situation quickly escalated as a second explosion occurred nearby, injuring more people and causing widespread chaos.
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Musa’s colleague reportedly sustained a broken leg, while several others were caught in the blasts.
Although the attackers were unable to gain access to the hospital’s main building, the explosions at the entrance proved deadly. No fewer than 23 people were killed, while 108 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
A local shop owner confirmed that the attackers’ primary target appeared to be the hospital itself, a move that could have led to catastrophic loss of life among patients and visitors.
On the same day, another explosion rocked the Monday Market area of Maiduguri, with eyewitnesses suggesting it may have been carried out by a separate attacker using an explosive vest.
The incident further deepened fears among residents already shaken by the hospital attack.
In response to the growing insecurity, President Bola Tinubu has directed top military officials to relocate to Borno State to coordinate intensified security operations.
The Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff have since arrived in Maiduguri as efforts continue to restore calm and prevent further attacks.
The tragic incidents have once again highlighted the urgent need for heightened vigilance and strengthened security measures across public spaces in the region.
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