Police react as explosion hits military barracks in Borno
Residents of Maiduguri were thrown into panic in the early hours of Thursday as multiple explosions shook Giwa Barracks, located in the heart Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The blasts reportedly began around 12:05 am, sending shockwaves through nearby communities. Witnesses described red flares lighting up the night sky, with the epicenter of the explosion believed to be the barracks’ armoury.
Rakiya Garba, a resident near the area, confirmed the presence of emergency responders, including firefighters with sirens blaring. “We are safe but very frightened. The explosions are coming from inside the barracks. It doesn’t seem to be an attack because we haven’t heard any gunfire—just repeated blasts,” she said.
Reacting to the incident, the Borno State Police Command said the incident was not an enemy attack but a case of “friendly fire.”
In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Nahum Daso, said preliminary findings indicate that the explosions were caused by a detonation within the armoury of the military facility.
“Following reports of explosions heard across Maiduguri, investigations reveal that the source was a friendly-fire incident at the Giwa Barracks armoury. There is no indication of any enemy attack, and the situation remains under control,” the statement read.
Daso added that security personnel, including Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams and fire service responders, are on-site working to fully extinguish the fire and secure the area.
“We urge members of the public to stay calm. Further updates will be shared as more information becomes available,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Borno State Government also clarified the cause of the incident, suggesting that the extreme heat currently being experienced in the region may have sparked the fire that triggered the explosion.
According to a statement from the Directorate of Fire Service under the Ministry of Information and Internal Security, the blaze affected an ammunition storage facility, leading to multiple detonations.
“Preliminary investigation suggests that the intense heatwave in Maiduguri may have ignited or intensified the fire outbreak,” the statement said.
A joint team from the Nigerian Army Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, and Borno State Fire Service responded promptly and has since contained the blaze.
