MAIDUGURI – One of the victims of Monday night’s explosion in Maiduguri, Borno State, Abacha Mustapha, has shared the harrowing moments he faced when the blast rocked a busy market, leaving him seriously injured.
Speaking from his hospital bed at Umaru Shehu Hospital on Tuesday, Mustapha described preparing to leave the market after breaking his fast when the first bomb detonated.
“We broke our fast and were about to leave after closing our shops when the first bomb went off. I heard a loud sound, and suddenly my neck started bleeding,” he recounted.
The explosion caused chaos, as traders and residents scrambled to safety. “It was chaotic. People were running in different directions. Some fell, others were shouting. I couldn’t even understand what had happened at first,” Mustapha added.
He credited his brother with saving his life. “My brother used his cloth to tie my neck to stop the bleeding before rushing me to the hospital. If not for him, I don’t know what would have happened,” he said.
Medical staff confirmed that many victims were brought in with shrapnel wounds, burns, and other injuries. Eyewitnesses noted that the blast struck during a busy time when traders were closing for the day, and residents were returning home after breaking their fast.
Read Also;
Multiple Bomb Explosions Rock Maiduguri Amid Boko Haram Attacks
The Nigerian Army has warned of possible deployment of multiple suicide bombers in Maiduguri and urged residents to avoid crowded areas.
Monday’s coordinated attacks reportedly claimed 23 lives and injured 108 others. The North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, said the blasts targeted the Post Office area, Monday Market axis, and the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital to inflict mass casualties and spread fear.
The Borno State Police confirmed that security forces immediately secured the scenes and conducted thorough sweeps to prevent further attacks.
