Renewed Boko Haram attacks leave 23 dead, over 100 injured in northeastern Nigeria

LAGOS, Nigeria

At least 23 people have been confirmed dead and over 100 injured in a fresh wave of attacks by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in northeast Nigeria, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) told Anadolu on Tuesday.

The attacks, believed to be coordinated suicide bombings, reportedly targeted the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, as well as two busy commercial hubs, the Post Office Market and Monday Market, causing panic among residents and traders.

Local sources who spoke with an Anadolu correspondent said the blasts occurred shortly after Muslims in the area broke their fast and observed Maghrib prayers on Monday.

Speaking to Anadolu, Surajo Abdullahi, a zonal coordinator at NEMA, said 169 victims had been evacuated to three hospitals in Maiduguri.

“As of this morning, we have confirmed 23 dead as we continue to track development,” he said.

The last major bomb attack in Borno was in 2021, when Boko Haram fighters fired mortars that killed at least 10 people in the city, followed by a suicide bombing at a mosque in Gambarou market. The latest violence underscores growing concerns over a resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria’s northeast. Last week, insurgents attacked three military bases in Maiduguri.

The state has endured more than a decade of insurgency, leading to thousands of deaths, mass displacement, and widespread destruction of infrastructure.

Condemning the incident, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State described the attacks as “utterly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane,” reaffirming the state government’s commitment to strengthening security and protecting civilians.

The governor said targeting civilians and places of worship is unacceptable, especially at a time when Muslim faithful are observing acts of devotion. He extended condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.

Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the incident, but investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope and perpetrators of the attacks.