Panic erupted in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, following a bomb explosion near the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) on Monday.
Eyewitnesses said the explosion occurred around the hospital’s main entrance area, sending residents, commuters and hospital visitors fleeing for safety as security operatives rushed to the scene.
Sources said the blast was suspected to have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), although authorities had yet to issue an official statement confirming the exact cause as of press time.
Security personnel, including troops of the Nigerian military and other emergency responders, quickly cordoned off the area to prevent further casualties and to allow bomb disposal experts to assess the situation.
Some witnesses reported that the explosion created a loud bang that was heard in several parts of the city, particularly around the University of Maiduguri axis and nearby communities.
Emergency teams were seen evacuating victims from the scene, while injured persons were reportedly rushed into the hospital for treatment.
A security source said investigations had commenced to determine whether the incident was linked to insurgent activities in the North-East.
Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, has for years been at the centre of the insurgency led by the extremist group Boko Haram and its splinter faction Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The groups have carried out numerous bombings and attacks across the region since the insurgency began in 2009.
Security agencies have urged residents to remain calm and vigilant while investigations into the explosion continue.
Further details, including possible casualties and arrests, were still being awaited at the time of filing this report.
