On March 16, 2026, 23 people were killed and over 100 were wounded in explosions across Maiduguri, a northern Nigerian city. These attacks are suspected to be suicide bombings caused by Boko Haram or the ISIL; however, no group has claimed responsibility for the action. 

These attacks were carried out in three locations across Maiduguri: a market, a post office, and a teaching hospital. These locations have a significant impact on Nigerian citizens and make the attacks more devastating. 

Maiduguri was once faced with devastating bombings and crimes, but since 2010, the occurrence of these events has gone down. A member of a volunteer security group, Mohammed Hassan, was at the scene to help evacuate victims, said that “This attack’s been one of the deadliest in Maiduguri in years.”  

Citizens are on alert and aware that this attack may be the first of more, and are urged to take caution in public spaces. 

Both Boko Haram and the ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) have attacked various Nigerian army bases in Borno within the past month and over a span of decades in Nigeria, making them prime suspects for this suspected suicide bombing attack. Tensions between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government have previously been thought to have decreased; however, this bombing in Maiduguri marks a surge of attacks in the city and may be an indicator of rising tensions once again between Boko Haram and the government. The battle between Boko Haram and Nigerian authorities does not cease.

This attack shows that Boko Haram is still capable of performing these large-scale attacks as they have in the past, and sets the idea that this organization is still very much a threat to both government and citizens. In addition, this demonstrates that Nigeria’s government has not been able to combat or prevent attacks from organizations such as Boko Haram.