By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
A Maiduguri resident has lost four sons in the multiple bomb explosions that rocked the Borno State capital, killing at least 27 people and leaving several others injured in one of the deadliest attacks recorded in the city in recent times.
The incident occurred on Monday,16 March, 2026, when explosions hit different locations within Maiduguri metropolis, including the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the Monday Market roundabout and the Post Office area, as suspected attackers detonated improvised explosive devices in crowded places shortly after residents broke their fast, triggering panic across the city.
Emergency responders subsequently evacuated victims to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the Specialist Hospital and Umaru Shehu Hospital, where injured persons are currently receiving treatment, while security agencies intensified surveillance across the metropolis to prevent further attacks.
A trader, Usman Lawan, who spoke during a visit by Vice President Kashim Shettima to the teaching hospital, said his neighbour, identified as Ba Musa, lost all four of his children in the blast while they had gone out to buy eyeglasses in preparation for the Sallah celebration.
“They had just finished eating and came to buy eyeglasses for Sallah. The blast killed all of them. They were buried yesterday,” Lawan said.
Lawan, who also survived the explosion, said he lost his goods in the incident, explaining that the blast occurred shortly after he resumed work following the Iftar meal.
“We finished our Iftar, and I was pushing my fruit cart when the blast happened. I found myself in the hospital. Everything I had is gone,” he added.
Meanwhile, a security guard at the hospital, who sustained injuries, narrated how suspected attackers arrived on a motorcycle and attempted to gain access to the facility before the explosion.
“I noticed something suspicious and asked them to leave. They returned a second time, and when I refused to let them in, they threw a food container at me,” he said.
He added that the object fell to the ground and exploded moments later, while another device detonated as he tried to escape.
“It hit my hand and fell to the ground, threatening to explode. I lay down and heard a loud noise. As I tried to run inside, another container exploded and struck my leg,” he said.
In another account, a woman who lost her daughter in the attack said the explosion occurred shortly after they arrived at the hospital.
“We had just arrived at the hospital when the bomb went off. I fell, and my daughter fell lifeless. Her head exploded. They brought me inside and told me she was gone. I prayed to God because He took her,” she said.
She added, “Her father died when she was five months old.”
Similarly, some petty traders injured in the explosions said the incident had destroyed their means of livelihood and warned that recovery would be difficult without assistance.
One of the victims, Alhaji Bashir, who is receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, said many traders risk frustration even after recovering from their injuries.
“Unless something is done to help us get our businesses back on track, most of us will be frustrated even when we recover,” he said.
The coordinated explosions, which struck crowded public areas during the evening rush, have renewed fears among residents of Maiduguri, as security agencies continue patrols and investigations aimed at preventing further attacks.
