The ancient city of Maiduguri was plunged into mourning this week following devastating bomb explosions that claimed the lives of at least 27 people, including four sons of one grieving father.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Monday, has left families shattered and a community in deep sorrow, particularly as residents were preparing for the joyous Sallah celebrations.
A Father’s Unimaginable Loss
Usman Lawan, a trader in Maiduguri, shared the heartbreaking story of his neighbour, Ba Musa, a resident of Gwange Sabon Layi, who lost all four of his sons in the coordinated attacks.
According to Lawan, who spoke with Daily Trust during Vice President Kashim Shettima’s condolence visit to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), the boys had gone out to purchase eyeglasses for the upcoming Sallah celebration when tragedy struck.
“He bought them new clothes and shoes, and they came to our place to buy eyeglasses for Sallah celebrations. The blast killed all of them. They were buried yesterday,” Lawan recounted, his voice heavy with grief.
The trader, who was also caught in the explosion while pushing his fruit cart after breaking his Ramadan fast, added: “We finished our Iftar, and I was pushing my fruit-cart when the blast happened. I just found myself at the hospital. I lost everything to that attack.”
Multiple Attack Points
The explosions occurred at three strategic locations across Maiduguri: the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), the Monday Market roundabout, and the Post Office area. These are typically bustling areas filled with traders and shoppers, especially during festive periods.
Hospital Guard’s Heroic Stand
A security guard at UMTH, who sustained injuries to his arms and legs, provided a chilling account of the attack to the BBC.
“I was sitting outside the hospital when three people arrived on a motorbike. I noticed something suspicious and asked them to leave,” he narrated.
The attackers returned a second time, and when the vigilant guard refused them entry again, they threw what appeared to be a food container at him.
“It hit my hand and fell to the ground, threatening to explode. I lay down and heard a loud noise. As I tried to run inside, another container exploded and struck my leg,” he explained.
His quick thinking and brave resistance likely prevented the attackers from penetrating deeper into the hospital premises, potentially saving many more lives.
Stories of Survival and Loss
Among the survivors is a widow who lost her daughter in the blast. The woman’s account paints a picture of the sudden horror that descended upon innocent civilians.
“We had just arrived at the hospital when the bomb went off. I fell, and my daughter fell lifeless. Her head exploded,” she told reporters through tears.
The woman, who had already lost her husband when their daughter was just five months old, displayed remarkable faith despite her devastating loss: “They brought me inside and told me she was gone. I prayed to God because He took her.”
Treatment and Recovery
Survivors of the multiple bomb blasts are currently receiving treatment across several medical facilities in Maiduguri, including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Specialist Hospital, and Umaru Shehu Hospital.
Many of the victims were petty traders who were going about their lawful businesses when the explosions occurred, their lives forever changed in mere seconds.
A Community in Mourning
The Maiduguri bombings serve as another painful reminder of the security challenges facing communities in the Northeast region. As families buried their loved ones and survivors recuperate in hospital beds, the city that should have been preparing for Sallah celebrations found itself instead mourning senseless loss.
The visit by Vice President Kashim Shettima, himself a former governor of Borno State, underscores the gravity of the situation and the federal government’s concern for the affected families.
For Ba Musa and countless other families in Maiduguri, this Sallah will be marked not by celebration, but by the painful absence of loved ones taken too soon.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with all those affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace, and may God grant their families the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.
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