Maiduguri Blasts: Father Loses Four Sons in Sallah Shopping Tragedy

Maiduguri Blasts: Father Loses Four Sons in Sallah Shopping Tragedy

Tragedy struck in Maiduguri on Monday as multiple explosions claimed at least 27 lives, including four young brothers who had stepped out to buy eyeglasses ahead of the Sallah celebrations.

The coordinated blasts, which sent shockwaves across the Borno State capital, occurred at several busy locations, including the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the Monday Market roundabout, and the Post Office area.

Among the victims were the four sons of a resident identified as Ba Musa. According to eyewitnesses, the children had only just left home after breaking their fast to prepare for the festive period when they were caught in the deadly explosion.

A local trader, Usman Lawan, who survived the incident, recounted the heartbreaking loss, describing how his neighbour was left devastated.

“They had just eaten and went out to buy eyeglasses for Sallah. The blast killed all of them. They were buried yesterday,” he said.

Lawan himself did not escape unscathed. He said he lost his goods in the explosion and only regained consciousness in the hospital.

“We had just finished Iftar, and I was pushing my fruit cart when it happened. Everything I owned is gone,” he added.

At the hospital, victims narrated chilling accounts of how the incident unfolded. A security guard at the facility, who sustained injuries, said the attackers arrived on a motorbike and attempted to gain entry into the hospital premises.

“I became suspicious and stopped them. They left but came back again. When I refused them entry, they threw a container at me. It fell and almost immediately exploded. As I tried to run, another blast hit my leg,” he said.

Another victim, a grieving mother, told of how she lost her daughter in the chaos at the market.

“We had just arrived when the bomb went off. I fell, and my daughter fell lifeless. Her head was gone. They told me she had died. I leave everything to God,” she said, adding that the child had already lost her father as an infant.

Several of the injured are currently receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the State Specialist Hospital, and the Umaru Shehu Hospital.

Beyond the loss of lives, many survivors are now grappling with the destruction of their livelihoods. One of the victims, identified as Alhaji Bashir, warned of looming hardship for affected traders.

“Unless something is done to help us restart our businesses, many of us will be frustrated even after we recover,” he said from his hospital bed.

The incident has once again highlighted the fragile security situation in parts of the North-East, especially during festive periods when public places are often crowded.