By Obinna Uballa
President BolaTinubu has ordered top security officials to relocate to Maiduguri following Monday’s coordinated suicide bombings in the Borno State capital, which killed at least 23 people and injured over 100 others, while he continues his state visit to the United Kingdom.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Tinubu condemned the attacks as “desperate and frantic attempts by criminals and terrorist elements trying to instil and spread fear” and expressed solidarity with the victims and the people of Borno.
The President praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for repelling coordinated assaults on military positions and vowed that “there is no place in Nigeria where terrorists will find safety. We will locate them, confront them, and completely defeat them.”
He confirmed that emergency agencies have been instructed to provide proper care for the injured and said additional equipment and operational support had been approved for security forces during a recent security meeting over the weekend.
The New Diplomat had reported that Monday’s attacks, carried out by suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers, targeted crowded areas in Maiduguri, including the Post Office area, Monday Market axis, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. The assaults coincided with the Ramadan fast-breaking period, causing widespread panic and chaos.
The Nigerian Army, through Lt. Col. Sanni Uba, confirmed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai, alongside police and explosive ordnance disposal teams, secured the affected areas, evacuated the injured, and intensified surveillance to prevent further attacks.
The bombings followed earlier insurgent assaults on military positions in Ajilari, Damboa, and Baga, which were successfully repelled by joint security forces. Residents reported sporadic gunfire and explosions during the attempted incursions, but authorities said normalcy has largely returned to the affected areas.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, currently in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, described the attacks as “despicable, cruel, and cowardly” and called for increased vigilance. Former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso also condemned the bombings and urged decisive action from federal and state authorities.
Security analysts, including counterterrorism consultant Salaudeen Hashim, noted the coordinated nature of the attacks indicated that insurgent groups retain operational capabilities and warned of ongoing vulnerabilities along the Sambisa–Lake Chad corridor.
Meanwhile, Tinubu departed Abuja on Tuesday for a historic state visit to the United Kingdom, where he is scheduled to meet King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer to strengthen bilateral relations.
