Residents of Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State, were gripped by fear in the early hours of Thursday as a series of explosions rocked the Giwa Military Barracks.
The incident, which occurred around 12:05 a.m., sent shockwaves through the surrounding neighborhoods, prompting many residents to flee their homes in confusion and terror.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing intense red flares and hearing deafening blasts emanating from the barracks area, lighting up the night sky and fueling concerns of a possible militant attack.
Preliminary accounts from locals suggest the explosions originated from the armoury section of the military base. However, there were no signs of external assault, such as gunfire or advancing militants.
“We are safe, but everyone is scared. The explosions are coming from within the barracks. It doesn’t seem like an attack, but the blasts have been ongoing,” said Rakiya Garba, a local resident who spoke to reporters. She added that emergency responders, including fire service personnel, were on the scene, with sirens echoing across the city as efforts to extinguish the fire intensified.
In a swift response aimed at calming public anxiety, Borno State Deputy Governor Umar Kadafur issued a public statement confirming that the incident was not the result of a terrorist attack. He clarified that the explosions were caused by a fire outbreak in the armoury section of Giwa Barracks.
Kadafur reassured residents that the situation was under control and urged them to remain indoors while security operatives and emergency services worked to stabilize the area. He dismissed rumors linking the explosions to Boko Haram activity, emphasizing that authorities were closely monitoring developments.
No casualties have been officially reported as of the time of this report, and an investigation into the exact cause of the fire is underway.
