Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maiduguri on Wednesday, vowing to restore “full peace” after a triple suicide bombing claimed 23 lives in one of the deadliest assaults on the Borno state capital in recent years.
Monday evening’s attack struck a central market, a post office area, and the entrance of a major hospital, occurring just after residents had broken their Ramadan fast.
“I was at the market selling fara near the police post,” said survivor Monday Ezekel, 38. “We were just sitting there when suddenly the bomb went off.”
Speaking at the scene, Shettima expressed solidarity with the government and people of Borno. “We will not rest until full peace and stability are restored in Borno, the Northeast, and the entire nation,” he said.
The bombing comes amid a surge in attacks by Boko Haram and the rival Islamic State West Africa Province on both military and civilian targets.
On Wednesday, the military reported killing 80 jihadists who were planning to strike a military post in Borno state.
Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede, who arrived in the city hours before the VP, noted an “upsurge of attacks within the past month,” often coinciding with Ramadan. He stressed the importance of community involvement: “The people are complicit. Everyone must work together to end this.”