Insurgents Target Maiduguri Market and Hospital in Deadly Bombing Wave

At least 23 people were killed and 108 others injured in a series of suspected suicide improvised explosive device (IED) attacks that struck three locations in Maiduguri, Borno State, on the evening of March 16, 2026.

The explosions targeted crowded civilian areas, including the Monday Market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Post Office Flyover, deepening the humanitarian crisis in a region long plagued by insurgency.

Borno State Police Command spokesperson ASP Nahum Daso has confirmed the casualty figures in a statement, describing the incidents as suspected suicide bombings that occurred around 7:24 p.m. Preliminary investigations indicate the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers, though the exact identities and affiliations of the perpetrators remained under active probe. Daso says a combined team of police tactical units, military forces, and other security agencies responded swiftly, cordoning off the scenes and conducting thorough sweeps with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit to eliminate secondary threats.

Victims were evacuated by emergency services, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to nearby hospitals for treatment. The police commissioner, Naziru Abdulmaji, visited the sites for on-the-spot assessment, commiserated with affected families, and reaffirmed the command’s dedication to protecting lives and property. Authorities report that normalcy has returned to the affected zones, with heightened patrols and surveillance deployed across Maiduguri and surrounding areas to deter further incidents.

The blasts followed earlier military engagements on the same day. Eariler that morning,  suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters launched near-simultaneous attacks on three military positions: Ajilari Cross (outskirts of Maiduguri), along the Damboa-Maiduguri road in Damboa LGA, and Baga. Joint security forces, including land and air components of Operation Hadin Kai, police, Civilian Joint Task Force, hunters, and civil defence units, repelled the infiltrations without reported casualties on their side. Insurgents were believed to have suffered losses, though exact details were pending confirmation.

Governor Babagana Zulum, currently in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj, condemned the civilian-targeted explosions as “despicable, cruel, and cowardly,” especially during Ramadan. In a statement issued through his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, Zulum expressed deep sorrow for the victims and their families, describing the acts as “barbaric and inhumane.” He linked the renewed violence to intensified military operations in Sambisa forest and other insurgent hideouts, assuring residents that security agencies were firmly in control and that measures were in place to prevent further breaches in Maiduguri and beyond. He urged calm, normal activities, and prompt reporting of suspicious movements.

Informed observers suggest the civilian bombings may be retaliatory, planned in response to recent operations that eliminated key insurgent commanders. This highlights a troubling pattern: coordinated multi-site strikes blending civilian and military targets, indicating persistent operational capacity despite prolonged counter-insurgency efforts. This is in addition to vulnerabilities in remote communities along the Sambisa – Lake Chad corridor that expose rural communities.

The Maiduguri attacks follow a pattern of escalation, including a major assault on Ngoshe two weeks prior where insurgents killed civilians, abducted over 300 residents, and burned a military base. Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (Boko Haram faction) claimed responsibility in a video, vowing to expand operations to Maiduguri and Abuja. The latest bombings, occurring during Ramadan, have heightened fears of further violence as Eid approaches, prompting calls for increased vigilance at places of worship and public gatherings.

Security forces continue investigations to identify perpetrators and prevent recurrence. Residents have been urged to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and cooperate with authorities.