Panic gripped residents of Maiduguri and surrounding areas late Wednesday night as multiple explosions echoed across the city, emanating from the ammunition storage facility at Giwa Barracks.
Witnesses said the loud bangs, which began around 11:35 p.m., continued into the early hours of Thursday, with thick flames visible in the direction of the barracks. The situation triggered fears of a possible insurgent attack, prompting many residents to flee or stay indoors.
However, authorities have confirmed that the explosions were not the result of an external attack but were caused by a fire outbreak within the barracks.
Borno State Deputy Governor, Dr. Umar Usman Kadafur, on Thursday urged residents to remain calm, clarifying that the incident was due to a fire at the ammunition depot of Giwa Barracks and not a Boko Haram invasion, as speculated.
“This is to inform the public that on Wednesday, 30 April 2025, at about 10:30 p.m., there was a report of a fire outbreak at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri. The incident affected the ammunition facility within the barracks, leading to a series of explosions,” he said.
Kadafur added that a combined team of firefighters from the Nigerian Army Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, and Borno State Fire Service responded promptly and brought the situation under control.
He warned that while the main fire has been extinguished, there may still be secondary explosions due to remaining munitions. He urged residents not to panic if they continue to hear loud sounds around the barracks.
Preliminary investigations, he said, indicate that the intense heat in Maiduguri — common at this time of year — may have triggered or worsened the fire.
In a related statement, Captain Reuben Kovangiya, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters Theatre Command, Operation HADIN KAI, confirmed that the explosions involved ordnance at the barracks’ ammunition storage facility.
He also attributed the incident to the extreme temperatures in the city and reassured the public that troops had been deployed to secure the area and prevent opportunistic criminal activity.
“The situation has been brought under control with support from fire service departments and other security agencies. The public is advised to disregard rumours of an attack and remain calm,” Kovangiya stated
