Residents of Maiduguri, Borno state capital, were thrown into a state of panic after multiple blasts were heard Tuesday evening.
It is not yet clear what led to the blasts, but residents told TheCable that it started around 6pm.
“I was on my way to the mosque when I started hearing the sounds of the bomb blast, followed by that of gunshots,” one of the residents said.
“The sounds were coming from Gwange area of the town,” he added.
Another resident expressed fear that it might be an attack from suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
“What I hear is that the insurgents are trying to come into town through Meri village, close to the University of Maiduguri,” he said.
A military source told TheCable that insurgents were attempting to infiltrate Maiduguri but they were repelled around Kaleri, after Mairi.
Yakaka, a Twitter user, also confirmed that he heard the blasts.
“Multiple bomb blast sounds in Maiduguri just now. Ya Allah don’t take us back to what we have left behind us. I have long forgotten this heart sinking sound till now,” he tweeted.
When contacted, Edet Okon, police spokesperson in Borno, refused to comment on the incident.
Mohammed Yerima, army spokesperson, said he was yet to be informed of the blasts.
“I just spoke with the theatre commander and he did not tell me of any blasts yet,” he said.
In the past, Maiduguri had suffered several bomb attacks which claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed properties.
The city has enjoyed relative peace in the past few months. (The Cable)
