Multiple Suicide Bombings Kill 23 in Nigeria’s Maiduguri, Wounding Over 100
Coordinated attacks target hospital and crowded markets during Ramadan evening gatherings
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — March 17, 2026 — At least 23 people have been killed and more than 100 wounded in a series of suspected suicide bombings that rocked the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri on Monday evening, police said, in the deadliest attack on the city in years .
The explosions struck three separate locations within the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council at approximately 7:05 p.m. local time during the Iftar period, when Muslims gather to break their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan . The targeted sites included the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the Post Office area, and the Monday Market axis, according to Sirajo Abdullahi, head of operations at Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Maiduguri .
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“Preliminary investigation reveals that the incidents were carried out by suspected suicide bombers,” police spokesman Nahum Kenneth Daso said in a statement released early Tuesday. “Regrettably, a total of twenty-three (23) persons lost their lives, while one hundred and eight (108) others sustained varying degrees of injuries” .
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, though security analysts noted that the coordinated bombings bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram, the Islamist insurgent group that, along with its rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has waged a 16-year campaign to establish a caliphate in Nigeria . The conflict has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced approximately two million .
Targeting of Hospital Draws Condemnation
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) strongly condemned the bombings, expressing particular concern that one of the explosions occurred within the premises of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the largest tertiary health facility in northeastern Nigeria .
“Hospitals are sacred spaces meant for healing, hope and preservation of life. To witness such a place targeted by acts of violence is both painful and unacceptable,” the association said in a statement from its president, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman .
The association noted with relief that none of its members at the hospital were harmed, and commended resident doctors, medical students, and healthcare workers for their courage and professionalism in responding promptly to attend to victims of the explosions .
An AFP reporter at a city hospital on Monday evening saw dozens of wounded people seeking treatment, as well as multiple bodies covered by sheets on the sidewalk outside . Mohammed Hassan, a member of a volunteer group that assists security forces, said he personally evacuated 10 bodies from the markets.
“Many victims were rushed to the emergency ward, but some died at the hospital. We’re in dire need of blood,” Hassan told the AP. “This attack’s been one of the deadliest in Maiduguri in years” .
Security Response and Investigation
The Nigerian Army’s Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, said troops responded swiftly in conjunction with police explosive ordnance disposal teams and other security agencies, securing and cordoning off the affected locations .
“Preliminary information indicates that the terrorists may have deployed multiple suicide bombers into Maiduguri with the intention of carrying out coordinated attacks at crowded locations,” the army said in a statement .
Emergency response teams, including personnel from NEMA and other medical services, evacuated victims to the General Hospital, Specialist Hospital, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for urgent treatment . Medical teams are currently attending to the injured across various health facilities, while rescue and evacuation operations continue .
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Security forces have intensified surveillance, patrols, and counter-IED measures across the metropolis to track down any remaining suspects and prevent further attacks . Police said “normalcy has been fully restored in the affected areas” and that security forces have increased their “presence and surveillance across Maiduguri and its environs to prevent any further occurrences” .
Context of Rising Violence
The bombings came after an attack on a military post overnight Sunday to Monday on the outskirts of Maiduguri, which authorities blamed on suspected jihadists . The Nigerian military said in a statement earlier that security forces had repelled attacks by suspected insurgents in the early hours of Monday .
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the apparent bombings and said “the recent surge in attacks is not unconnected with intense military operations in the Sambisa forest,” a known stronghold of armed groups .
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those injured as a result of the blast. The act is utterly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane,” Zulum said .
Maiduguri, once the scene of daily shootings and bombings, had been relatively calm in recent years, with attacks peaking in the mid-2010s . The last major attack dated back to 2021, when Boko Haram fighters fired mortars at the city, killing 10 people. However, in December, an unclaimed bombing killed at least seven people in a city mosque .
Boko Haram and ISWAP have carried out several attacks against army bases across Borno this month, killing a number of troops and seizing weapons . Last week, the army confirmed “coordinated attacks” on several military bases in the northeast, which killed at least 14 people, including 10 soldiers, according to local civilian and military sources .
International Cooperation
Last month, the United States began deploying troops to Nigeria to provide technical and training support to the country’s soldiers in fighting armed groups . US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said 200 soldiers were expected to join the deployment overall, and also conducted air attacks on the northern state of Sokoto in December, in coordination with Nigerian authorities .
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, avoid crowded areas where possible, and promptly report any suspicious persons, unattended items, or unusual activities to the nearest security agency .
Operation HADIN KAI expressed condolences to families of victims and assured residents that troops and other security agencies remain fully committed to safeguarding lives and property while pursuing those responsible for the attacks
SOURCES / INPUTS
1 Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)/AFP: Nigeria suicide attacks kill 23, wound more than 100: police
2 Al Jazeera: At least 23 killed after blasts hit Nigeria’s Maiduguri, police say
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