Multiple Blasts Kill at least 23 in Maiduguri Markets & Hospital in Nigeria

A series of coordinated blasts in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri has killed at least 23 people and injured more than 100, highlighting a renewed surge in violence in Borno State as security forces confront multiple armed groups operating across the region.

Police said the explosions occurred on March 16, 2026 at three locations - the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and two markets known as Post Office Market and Monday Market. Emergency response teams and explosive ordnance units were deployed immediately following what authorities described as “suspected suicide bomb events.”

Police spokesperson Nahum Kenneth Daso said preliminary findings pointed to suicide attackers. “Preliminary investigation reveals that the incidents were carried out by suspected suicide bombers,” he said. Authorities confirmed that 23 people were killed and 108 others injured.

Witnesses and emergency responders described scenes of significant casualties, particularly at crowded public sites. Bagoni Alkali, who assisted victims, said more than 200 injured individuals were receiving treatment at the hospital’s emergency department. “Right now, over 200 people have been injured and are receiving care,” he said, adding that many victims died at the scene.

Another responder, Mohammed Hassan, said at least 10 bodies were recovered from market areas. “Many victims were rushed to the emergency ward, but some died at the hospital. We’re in dire need of blood,” he said, describing the attack as one of the deadliest in Maiduguri in years.

No group has claimed responsibility, but the attacks come amid intensified operations against Daesh linked militants active in Borno State. The Nigerian military said it repelled attacks by suspected militants on the outskirts of Maiduguri in the early hours of the same day.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum linked the escalation to ongoing military pressure in Sambisa forest, a key militant stronghold. He said the recent surge in violence was connected to intensified operations in the area and condemned the attacks as “utterly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane.”

Maiduguri had experienced a relative lull in large-scale attacks compared to the mid-2010s, when daily bombings and shootings were common. The last major incident occurred in 2021, when mortar fire killed 10 people. More recently, a December bombing at a mosque killed at least seven.

The latest violence coincides with broader regional instability and increased international involvement. Last week, coordinated attacks on military bases in northeast Nigeria killed at least 14 people, including 10 soldiers, according to local sources.

The United States has also expanded its security cooperation with Nigeria. Last month, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) began deploying up to 200 troops to provide technical and training support. AFRICOM also conducted air operations in Sokoto State in December in coordination with Nigerian authorities.

Officials say Nigeria’s security challenges are multifaceted, affecting both civilians and military personnel across multiple lines.