By Abu Adamu
Nigeria witnessed a day of tragedy on Monday as coordinated explosions in Maiduguri claimed 23 lives and left over 100 injured, while a separate train collision along the Kaduna–Abuja corridor added to the toll of the day with dozens of passengers wounded.
In Borno State, authorities confirmed that multiple explosions rocked Maiduguri at about 7:24 p.m., throwing the city into panic just hours after residents had broken their Ramadan fast.
The Borno State Police Command said 23 persons were killed and 108 others injured in the attacks, which preliminary investigations indicate were carried out by suspected suicide bombers using improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Police spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, said the explosions occurred at crowded and strategic locations, including the popular Monday Market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), and the Post Office Flyover.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the first blast was heard around 7 p.m., sending residents fleeing in confusion as subsequent explosions echoed across parts of the city, including the Elkanemi area.
The attacks, believed to be linked to terrorists associated with Boko Haram, came amid heightened tension following an earlier assault on a military formation in Ajilari, on the outskirts of Maiduguri. During that attack, gunmen reportedly set parts of the facility ablaze before fleeing with a patrol vehicle. Troops were said to have repelled the assault, killing some of the attackers while others escaped with injuries.
Security forces, including police tactical units, the military, and other joint operatives, were swiftly deployed to the blast scenes in Maiduguri. The areas were cordoned off while the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit conducted sweep operations to prevent further attacks.
Emergency responders, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), evacuated victims to medical facilities for treatment.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Naziru Abdulmajid, visited the affected locations for an on-the-spot assessment and commiserated with victims and their families.
Authorities said normalcy had since been restored in the metropolis, although security has been intensified, with residents urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident earlier in the day, several passengers were injured when a train travelling from Kaduna to Abuja was involved in a collision along the Rigasa–Idu rail corridor.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, said the injured passengers were evacuated to the Idu train station in Abuja, where they received medical attention, adding that no fatalities were recorded.
Further details from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) revealed that the incident involved train KA2, which departed Rigasa and experienced a mechanical failure shortly after passing Jere station.
According to the NSIB, the rear locomotive became detached while the train was moving along a downward gradient towards Asham. The detached locomotive then rolled forward and collided with the rear portion of the train, resulting in what officials described as a serious operational occurrence.
The train was conveying 429 passengers, alongside 46 crew members and 24 security personnel at the time of the incident.
Despite the impact, the train managed to continue its journey to Idu Station, arriving at about 10:39 a.m., where additional assistance was provided to affected passengers.
NSIB said its investigators have commenced a full-scale probe into the incident, focusing on technical, operational, and infrastructure factors, including locomotive attachment systems and operational procedures.
Director-General of the bureau, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., expressed concern for the injured passengers and stressed the agency’s commitment to ensuring safer railway operations.