Babagana Zulum, Borno State Governor has disclosed that two suspected suicide bombers remain unaccounted for following a series of explosions that struck Maiduguri.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Pidgin on Friday, the governor said intelligence reports suggest that five bombers infiltrated the city. According to him, three have already detonated their improvised explosive devices (IEDs), while security agencies are still searching for the remaining two.
“As I mentioned earlier, intelligence indicates that five suicide bombers entered Maiduguri. So far, three have carried out attacks, while efforts are ongoing to locate the others,” Zulum said.
Earlier reports by TheCable confirmed that three explosions occurred across the city, leaving more than 100 people injured and at least 23 dead.
The coordinated nature of the attacks has heightened fears of renewed insurgent infiltration into the city, particularly during festive periods.
Meanwhile, Ali Ndume revealed that some of the explosive devices were transported using tricycles in an apparent attempt to bypass security checks.
Zulum said security operatives have intensified surveillance and are actively tracking the suspects. He urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid crowded places, especially during the Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
“We are on top of the situation and will track down those who are yet to detonate their devices,” he said, stressing the need for public awareness to reduce risk.
The governor linked the infiltration to ongoing military operations in the Sambisa Forest and along the Lake Chad, noting that insurgents often disperse into civilian areas to evade military pressure.
He also pointed to Maiduguri’s rapidly growing population—now estimated between three and four million—as a challenge for effective screening and surveillance.
Despite the latest attacks, Zulum maintained that the state has made notable progress in combating insurgency compared to previous years.
In response, Bola Tinubu has directed security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri, while the African Union has called for increased international support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
