Residents of Maiduguri were jolted from their sleep in the early hours of Thursday by a series of terrifying explosions that erupted from the Giwa Military Barracks, causing widespread fear and confusion.
The incident, which began around 12:05 a.m., lit up the night sky with red flares and sent shockwaves through surrounding neighborhoods. The source of the blasts was later confirmed to be the armoury within the barracks.
Amid initial panic and speculation, Borno State Deputy Governor, Dr. Umar Kadafur, urged calm. He clarified that the explosions were not a terrorist attack, but the result of a fire outbreak at the military armoury. “This is not the work of insurgents. Please remain calm and stay indoors,” he said.
A local resident, Rakiya Garba, spoke to The Punch, confirming the presence of firefighters and ongoing explosions within the barracks. “We are safe, but deeply afraid. The sound is from inside the barracks. There are no gunshots, so we don’t think it’s an attack — but it’s very frightening,” she said.
As emergency responders work to contain the situation, no casualties have yet been officially reported. Security officials have cordoned off the area, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
