Commander visits Giwa Barracks after armoury blast, calms residents

The Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General A.E. Abubakar, on Thursday, visited Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri to assess the damage caused by an explosion that rocked the facility’s armoury.

He was received by the Commanding Officer of 73 Battalion, Lt. Col. N. Dalha, and the Joint Intelligence Centre Commander, Col. Ahmad, who led him and other senior officers on a tour of the affected areas.

Commending troops and emergency services for their swift response, Abubakar praised their “gallant efforts” in containing the fire triggered by the explosion, which he confirmed had destroyed the barracks’ only armoury.

He urged members of the public to stay calm, assuring that “the situation is under control and normalcy has been fully restored within and around the barracks.”

However, he warned residents near the area not to touch or pick up unidentified objects, noting that “some fragments and unexploded ordnances may have been scattered by the explosion.”

Abubakar encouraged vigilance, calling on citizens to report any suspicious objects or movements to security authorities. He also provided an emergency contact line: 09026959597.

The explosion, which occurred late Wednesday night, caused tension in parts of Maiduguri and triggered an emergency response and heightened security surveillance.

Commander visits Giwa Barracks after armoury blast, calms residents