Maiduguri explosion survivor relives moment of horror after Iftar

A survivor of Monday night’s deadly explosion in Maiduguri, Abacha Mustapha, has shared a chilling account of how the blast erupted moments after he and others had broken their fast, leaving him badly wounded.

Mustapha, who is currently receiving treatment at Umaru Shehu Hospital, told reporters on Tuesday that he had just closed for the day at the market and was preparing to head home when the explosion struck.

“We broke our fast and were about to leave after closing our shops when the first bomb detonated. I heard a loud sound, and suddenly my neck started bleeding,” he said.

The sudden explosion threw the area into confusion, as traders and residents fled in panic.

“It was chaotic. People were running in different directions. Some fell, others were shouting. I couldn’t even understand what had happened at first,” he added.

Mustapha credited his brother with saving his life in the immediate aftermath of the blast.

“My brother used his cloth to tie my neck to stop the bleeding before rushing me to the hospital. If not for him, I don’t know what would have happened,” he said.

Medical officials confirmed that multiple victims were rushed to the hospital with injuries ranging from burns to shrapnel wounds, following the attack which occurred at a peak hour when residents were dispersing after the day’s fasting.

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Eyewitnesses said the explosion hit busy locations, compounding the scale of casualties as people were returning home from evening activities.

In the wake of the attack, the Nigerian Army warned of a possible coordinated assault involving multiple suicide bombers and urged residents to stay away from crowded areas.

According to reports, the coordinated blasts claimed at least 23 lives and left 108 others injured.

The Media Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sanni Uba, said the attackers deliberately targeted densely populated locations to maximise casualties and spread fear, identifying the affected areas as the Post Office vicinity, the Monday Market axis, and the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

The Borno State Police Command also confirmed the incident, stating that security personnel swiftly moved to secure the affected sites and prevent further danger.

“The scenes were immediately secured, cordoned off, and subjected to thorough sweep operations by Police Explosive Ordnance (EOD) Unit Base 13 Maiduguri to rule out the presence of any additional threats,” said the Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso.

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