…Govt Appeals for Calm
Hussaini Kafi in Kano
A series of loud explosions jolted residents of Maiduguri from their sleep in the early hours of Thursday, causing widespread panic around the Giwa Barracks area.
The blasts, which reportedly began at about 12:05 a.m., sent shockwaves through nearby neighborhoods, with many locals fleeing their homes in confusion and fear.
Witnesses described seeing bright red flares lighting up the night sky and hearing continuous booms coming from the military facility.
As of the time of this report, the exact cause of the explosions had not been officially confirmed, but residents close to the barracks believe the blasts originated from the armoury.
“We’re not hearing gunfire, so it doesn’t appear to be an external attack,” said Rakiya Garba, a local resident. “But the explosions have been loud and continuous. Firefighters are around now, and their sirens are everywhere.”
In a swift response, Borno State Deputy Governor, Dr. Umar Usman Kadafur, appealed for calm and clarified that the explosions were the result of an accidental fire outbreak within the Giwa Barracks armoury, not an insurgent attack.
He urged the public to disregard rumours of a Boko Haram strike and assured that security personnel were working to contain the situation.
“Citizens should stay indoors and allow security agencies to do their job,” he advised.
