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Fresh details have emerged about the attempted bombing at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where three teenagers were reportedly stopped by security before entering the facility with explosives hidden inside a food flask.
According to a report by The PUNCH, the suspects allegedly planned to detonate the explosives inside the hospital’s main building, an attack that could have caused massive casualties among patients and visitors.
The incident occurred on March 16 when security personnel at the hospital entrance prevented the suspects from gaining access.
Explosions later occurred near the gate after the attackers were turned back.
Authorities say at least 23 people were killed and 108 others were injured in the attacks.
One of the hospital security guards, Ali Musa, said the suspects appeared to be teenagers who arrived at the hospital in a tricycle, locally known as a “Keke Napep.”
Earlier, suspected jihadists launched an attack on a Nigerian military post on the outskirts of Maiduguri, a key northeastern city that had not seen such violence in years. (Photo by AFP)
They were carrying a food flask, which initially made them look like relatives bringing meals to patients.
Musa explained that security had already been heightened after reports of an earlier explosion near the post office.
According to him, the three suspects approached the entrance at high speed instead of slowing down for the routine security check.
Suspicious of their behaviour, Musa said he asked them to turn back.
“They were three in number—two boys and one rider of the tricycle. I think they were around 13 or 14 years old. They looked very unkempt. I suspected something was wrong with the way they drove in,” Musa said.
“Normally, when people approach, they are expected to slow down for security checks. But when the attackers came, they drove in at full speed. That signalled that something was wrong with the tricycle.
“So, I stopped them and asked them to go back. They initially objected but later reversed. They were staring at me with a terrifying look.”
He said while reversing the tricycle, one of the teenagers threw the food flask toward him. Moments before the flask exploded, according to Musa, he kicked it away, but the blast hurt him and other people nearby.
Musa also recalled that a colleague on duty suffered a broken leg, while another young boy was found lying on the ground after the explosion.
Moments later, a second blast occurred in the area, forcing him to seek cover despite injuries to his legs.
“They were reversing the tricycle and, while doing that, one of them holding the flask threw it at me. I kicked the flask back, and it fell. I then heard a loud explosion and immediately lay flat on the ground. The impact affected my hand.
“After the blast, I tried to rush to where my colleague was standing to check on her, but I met her with a broken leg. I also saw an Almajiri boy lying on the ground.
“After I dragged the lady away, another bomb exploded not too far from that spot, so I jumped into a flower garden. Both my legs were affected,” he added.
A shop owner near the hospital, who spoke anonymously to The PUNCH, confirmed that the attackers appeared to be targeting the hospital.
Meanwhile, another explosion reported the same evening at Monday Market around 7:05 pm is believed to have involved a different suicide bomber using an explosive vest.
Following the incidents, President Bola Tinubu ordered Nigeria’s service chiefs to relocate to Borno State as security concerns grow in the region.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, arrived in Maiduguri on Wednesday, March 18, in response to the directive.
