- Fire brought under control
There was panic among residents on Wednesday night in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital as multiple explosions boomed across the city, sending plumes of fire and smoke in the night skyline from the Giwa Military Barracks.
But sources said that the fire and explosions were “brought under control as of 1:30 a.m. Thursday.
In fact, a source said that the situation, was traced to a heat induced reaction in the barracks’ armoury, leading to a series of explosions and fire.
But according to a source: “The situation has been brought under control. The explosions have stopped since about 1:30 a.m., and all necessary safety measures have been put in place. There was no external attack. It was an accidental ignition caused by extreme heat within a part of the armoury.”
The explosions spread fears of terrorists attack as residents trooped into the streets.
Meanwhile, earlier, the Directorate of Fire Service in Ministry of Information and Internal Security, Borno State issued the following statement: “This is to inform the public that on Thursday 30 April 2025 at 10.30 pm, there was a report of a fire outbreak at Giwa Barracks Maidiguri. The fire incident affected the ammunition facility within the barrack, and some ammunitions have exploded causing loud bangs.
“A combined team of first responders from the Nigerian Army Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and Borno State Fire Service have duly reported at the scene and successfully put out the fire.
“However, there may be secondary explosions which may disturb the neighbourhood around the barracks. Members of the public should not panic on hearing loud bangs.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the intense heat in Madiguri around this time of the year may have triggered or conflagrated the fire. However, the combined team of fire fighters are on top of the situation.”
Zagazola gathered that no casualties were reported so far and normalcy has since returned to the area.
Residents have been urged to remain calm and disregard rumours of an attack, as security across Maiduguri remains stable.
