Tinubu Calls Maiduguri Attacks Profoundly Upsetting

Tinubu Calls Maiduguri Attacks “Profoundly Upsetting,” Vows No Safe Haven for Terrorists After 23 Die in Explosions President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condemned a series of bomb explosions in Maiduguri, Borno State that killed at least 23 people and injured over 100 others, calling the incident “profoundly upsetting” and promising that “there is no place in Nigeria where terrorists will find safety. The twin explosions and suspected suicide bomb attacks rocked Maiduguri on the evening of March 16, 2026, hitting crowded areas including the Post Office, Monday Market, and the entrance to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Security sources and eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with debris scattered across streets and emergency responders treating the wounded. According to police and official reports, at least 23 people were killed and 108 others injured in the blasts. The attacks followed an earlier attempted assault on a military post near the city, raising fears of a coordinated escalation by extremist groups. Suspicions immediately fell on Boko Haram and its affiliate the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), both of which have a long history of insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast, though no group has officially claimed responsibility. In response, President Tinubu ordered top security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri to take personal charge of operations aimed at tracking down the perpetrators and preventing further attacks. He also directed emergency agencies to ensure proper care for the injured. “The recent news from Maiduguri is profoundly upsetting,” Tinubu said in a statement, mourning the loss of life and expressing solidarity with the victims’ families. He labelled the bombing a desperate attempt by terrorists to spread fear under growing pressure from Nigeria’s armed forces. “We will locate them, confront them, and completely defeat them,” the president vowed.

Maiduguri, once devastated by years of insurgency, had seen relative calm before this latest spate of violence. The city has repeatedly been targeted over the course of the 17‑year insurgency that has displaced millions and claimed thousands of lives across Nigeria’s northeast. The attacks come as Nigerian security forces continue operations against extremist groups in multiple regions, including the northwest and central areas of the country. Government officials have been under increasing pressure to improve intelligence, protection of civilians, and rapid response to threats. Local authorities and national leaders condemned the attacks. The Northern Senators’ Forum expressed shock and sadness, urging Nigerians to remain calm and support security agencies as they pursue justice and restore confidence in Maiduguri’s safety. Community members described scenes of fear and sorrow, with hospitals overwhelmed by injured civilians and families searching for loved ones amid the turmoil.

As federal security chiefs move into Maiduguri and efforts intensify to uncover those responsible, President Tinubu’s firm rhetoric underscores the government’s resolve to confront terrorism. However, the deadly explosions also highlight enduring insecurity in Nigeria’s northeast, even in areas that had seen reduced violence in recent years.