Multiple blasts struck the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri on Monday, killing and wounding dozens of people, according to witnesses and officials. The explosions occurred at the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and two local markets, known as Post Office and Monday Market, as reported by Sirajo Abdullahi, head of operations at Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Maiduguri.

Abdullahi told The Associated Press (AP): "There are casualties, and they are still managing the casualties at the hospital. We can’t give the actual figure until we count." Witnesses described the incidents as suspected suicide bomb events, with police deploying explosives clearance teams to three locations. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombings, which come amid a complex security crisis in northern Nigeria involving various armed groups.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the attacks, stating that "the recent surge in attacks is not unconnected with intense military operations in the Sambisa forest," a known stronghold of armed groups. He said: "My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those injured as a result of the blast. The act is utterly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane." Witness Bagoni Alkali told AP that over 200 people were injured and receiving care, with many losing their lives immediately at the scene, calling it one of the deadliest attacks in Maiduguri in years.

Maiduguri, once a scene of daily shootings and bombings, had been relatively calm in recent years, but this attack highlights the ongoing violence in the region. Nigeria is battling a multifaceted security crisis in its north, with groups like Boko Haram and the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP) carrying out assaults. Last week, the army confirmed "coordinated attacks" on several military bases in the northeast, killing at least 14 people, including 10 soldiers, according to local sources.

Last month, the United States began deploying troops to Nigeria to provide technical and training support to the country’s soldiers in fighting armed groups. US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said 200 troops were expected to join the deployment overall. AFRICOM also conducted air attacks in Nigeria’s northern Sokoto State in December, in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Nigeria expanded security cooperation with Washington after former US President Donald Trump allegedly accused the country last year of failing to protect Christians, though authorities deny systematic persecution, and experts note that security crises affect both Christians and Muslims indiscriminately.

Source: www.aljazeera.com