After the Blast: Panic, Prayers and a Night of Uncertainty in Maiduguri
By Jerry Adesewo
For many residents of Maiduguri, Monday evening began like any other. Traders were closing their stalls at the bustling Monday Market while families gathered for the evening meal. Then, a loud blast shattered the calm.
Within moments, confusion spread across parts of the Borno State capital as explosions were reported around the Monday Market and the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). Residents said the explosions were heard around 7:20–7:30 p.m., sending people running for safety and leaving injured victims in their wake.
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Videos circulating online showed wounded residents being rushed into hospital corridors while others sat on the floor with blood-stained clothing, waiting for treatment.
For traders like Abdul Ahmed, the moment is one he will not forget in a hurry.
“We heard the blast and everyone just started running,” he said. “People were shouting and praying at the same time.”
The Monday Market is not just any marketplace. Established in the 1970s, it has grown into one of the largest commercial hubs in northeastern Nigeria, with thousands of shops serving traders from across the region and neighboring countries.
On most evenings, the area is crowded with traders packing up goods and commuters heading home.
That routine was suddenly disrupted.
Police authorities confirmed the incident shortly after the explosions, saying joint security operatives and emergency responders were immediately deployed to the affected areas.
According to the Borno State Police Command, specialists from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit, Base 13 Maiduguri, were also dispatched to the scene to assess the situation and prevent further danger. Residents were advised to stay calm and avoid the affected areas while security teams carried out investigations.
At the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, medical workers moved quickly to receive the injured. Eyewitnesses described scenes of anxiety outside the hospital gates as relatives searched for loved ones.
“We started seeing injured people arriving one after another,” said a hospital visitor who witnessed the aftermath. “Some were bleeding, some were crying. Everyone was confused.”
While the exact cause of the explosions remained unclear late Monday night, residents suspected the possibility of bomb attacks linked to ongoing insurgency in the region, although authorities have not confirmed any group responsible.
The explosions also came amid renewed security concerns in Borno State, where insurgent groups have carried out attacks on communities and military formations in recent months.
For people who live and work around the market, the shock was not just about the blasts but the memories they revived. Maiduguri has endured years of insurgency, and many residents have learned to read the sound of danger.
Yet even in fear, there were moments of solidarity.
As night fell, groups of residents gathered outside homes and shops, exchanging phone calls and checking on neighbors. Some offered prayers; others waited anxiously for news from hospitals and security officials.
For Maiduguri, the explosions were more than a security incident. They were a reminder of the fragile calm that many in the city hope will someday become lasting peace.