By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Cross Udo, David Lawani, Abuja and Lanre Ola, Maiduguri
Commercial activities across key parts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, were brought to a standstill on Tuesday after a wave of deadly explosions ripped through the city, killing 23 people and injuring at least 108 others.
The coordinated attacks, believed to have been carried out by suicide bombers linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP, struck three crowded locations within the city’s commercial heart, Maiduguri Monday Market, the busy Post Office area, and the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).
The blasts triggered panic across the city and forced authorities to shut down major business centres as security agencies cordoned off affected areas.
“The closure of the market has affected our business, especially in this Sallah season. But what can we do? Our security is more important,” Usman Sani, a clothes trader at the market, told ThisNigeria.
The district hosts hundreds of businesses, including motor spare parts dealers, banks, business centres, phone accessory shops, and other small enterprises that provide daily income for thousands of residents.
Abba Khali, who operates a business centre in the area, lamented the economic toll of the renewed security threat on traders and small-scale operators.
“Traders and small-scale businesses are the most affected by the security situation because we rely on daily income,” he said.
“Salary earners will still get their pay even if bomb blasts keep them at home for one month, but people like us only survive on what we make every day.”
Findings by ThisNigeria indicate that the Post Office district alone supports over 10,000 daily earners, many of whom were forced to remain at home as security agencies tightened surveillance across the city following the attacks.
The explosions have renewed fears among residents about the resurgence of insurgent attacks in Maiduguri, a city that has endured years of violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency.
*VP Shettima curses perpetrators, says no faith condones killing of innocent lives
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday called down divine punishment on those responsible for the deadly explosions that rocked Maiduguri, Borno State, declaring that Almighty Allah should remove the perpetrators from the face of the earth if they refuse to abandon the path of violence.
Speaking with visible anger and grief, Shettima condemned the attacks that claimed at least 25 lives in multiple blasts across the Borno State capital on Monday, describing the killings as senseless acts that no religion can justify.
The Vice President spoke during the closing session of the Annual Ramadan Tafsir at the State House Mosque in Abuja, where he prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls and comfort for their grieving families.
“May the lives of the innocent souls—25 of them—that lost their lives in Maiduguri last evening rest in peace. May Allah grant their souls eternal rest and reward them with Aljannah Firdaus, and may Allah grant their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses,” he said.
Shettima further prayed that God would bring an end to the wave of violence terrorising communities, stressing that no genuine religious doctrine supports the killing of innocent people.
“May Allah bring this madness to an end. No religion sanctions the killing of the innocent. Whatever is motivating them, may Allah either guide them onto the right path or may Allah vanish them from the surface of the earth,” the Vice President added.
He urged Nigerians to sustain prayers for the country and for the success of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, asking God to grant the leadership wisdom, courage, sincerity and fairness in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Reflecting on the spiritual lessons of Ramadan, Shettima reminded worshippers that positions of authority are temporary and that everyone remains accountable before God.
“In the presence of Allah, the distance between the mighty and the unknown vanishes. What remains is character, what remains is accountability, and what remains is what we did with the trust placed in our hands,” he said.
According to him, gatherings such as the Ramadan Tafsir help keep leaders grounded and conscious of their responsibilities to the people.
“The nation is not built by policy alone but by conscience; not by proclamation alone but by restraint; not by ambition alone but by fear of Allah,” he noted.
The Vice President also urged Muslims to ensure that the values learnt during Ramadan—discipline, compassion and self-restraint—continue to guide their conduct even after the holy month ends.
“A believer does not spend the whole month learning only to return to anger, greed and division. Nigeria needs homes where children encounter good examples before good advice, and leaders who understand that influence is a trust, not a licence,” he said.
Shettima commended the Chief Imam of the State House Mosque, Sheikh Abdulwaheed Suleiman Abubakar, and his team for conducting the Tafsir with wisdom and dedication.
Earlier, the cleric offered prayers for lasting peace, stability and economic progress in Nigeria, while also seeking divine guidance for the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration.
He urged leaders at all levels to discharge their duties with fear of Allah and a sincere commitment to the country’s development.
*Northern Senators demand justice, urge Nigerians to back security agencies
The Northern Senators Forum has called for urgent action to bring perpetrators of the deadly bomb explosions in Maiduguri to justice, urging Nigerians to support security agencies in ongoing efforts to restore peace.
In a condolence message issued Tuesday, the forum, led by its Chairman, Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, condemned the attacks that occurred on Monday evening shortly after Iftar, describing them as shocking and deeply tragic.
The lawmakers said the explosions, which claimed several lives and left many others injured, have once again highlighted the need for sustained vigilance and collective resolve against acts of terrorism.
Expressing solidarity with the government and people of Borno State, the senators said they share in the grief of families who lost loved ones and those currently receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the blasts.
“We are shocked and saddened by the devastating bomb explosions that rocked Maiduguri… claiming precious lives and injuring many,” the statement read.
It added that the forum stands firmly with residents in this period of mourning.
The group assured that the federal government would take all necessary measures to restore confidence in the security of the state capital and prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
It also appealed to citizens across the country to remain calm and cooperate fully with security agencies, stressing that public support is critical to tracking down those responsible for the attacks.
The forum further offered prayers for the victims, asking for divine comfort for bereaved families and speedy recovery for the injured, while also praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased.
Maiduguri, the epicentre of insurgency in Nigeria’s North-east, has witnessed years of security challenges, and the latest incident is expected to intensify calls for enhanced intelligence gathering and stronger security presence across vulnerable communities.
*Troops repel coordinated ISWAP attacks in Borno, inflict heavy casualties
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have repelled coordinated attacks by suspected ISWAP fighters on multiple military locations in Borno State, inflicting heavy losses on the insurgents.
The attacks, which occurred in the early hours of March 16, 2026, targeted troop positions at Njimtilo, Baga, Buratai and Damboa in what military authorities described as a desperate attempt by the terrorists to overrun formations and gain propaganda advantage.
According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lt Col Sani Uba, the assault at Ajiri Cross near Njimtilo was swiftly foiled as troops of Sector 1 detected the insurgents’ movement early and responded with coordinated firepower.
He said the troops, who had anticipated the attack, adopted a deliberate offensive-defensive posture, effectively disrupting the terrorists’ advance and cutting off their withdrawal routes, forcing them into a disorganised retreat with significant casualties.
Similar attacks at Baga, Buratai and Damboa were also repelled, as troops brought superior firepower to bear on the attackers.
The statement added that the operations were bolstered by close air support from the Air Component and the Nigerian Army Aviation, whose precision strikes further dislodged the insurgents and compounded their losses as they attempted to withdraw.
During the engagements, several terrorists were neutralised, including a key commander who led the attack on Buratai, while many others sustained injuries while fleeing.
Despite the intensity of the firefights, which resulted in some equipment damage and personnel injuries, troops maintained control of all locations. They continued follow-up operations to track fleeing insurgents.
Subsequently, troops conducted exploitation operations around Baga, extending to Korochara and Garin Giwa towards the Gidan Kaje axis, recovering a cache of arms and equipment.
The military also recovered seven bodies of neutralised terrorists, while others were reportedly buried in shallow graves by their fleeing counterparts.
The military high command said the failed attacks underscored the increasing pressure on terrorist groups in the North-east, noting that sustained operations had significantly limited their operational capabilities and disrupted attempts to stage propaganda.
It is assured that troops remain in high morale and continue to dominate the operational environment through coordinated offensives.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to restoring lasting peace in the region and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and disregard misinformation aimed at undermining ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
