Maguiduri: Loud explosions and red flares from Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, sparked panic among residents in the early hours of Thursday, prompting fears of a Boko Haram attack.
The incident occurred around 10:30 PM on April 30, 2025, and confused several neighborhoods, including Polo, Fori, GRA, and the University of Maiduguri area (UNIMAID), as people rushed out of their homes amid the terrifying sounds.
Residents reported a series of deafening bangs and saw bright flashes illuminating the night sky, leading many to assume a terror-related incident was underway.
The fear was heightened by Maiduguri’s history of insurgent attacks, particularly targeting military formations.
However, the Borno State Police Command quickly moved to dispel fears, clarifying that the explosions were not caused by an insurgency but rather a fire outbreak within the ammunition storage facility at the Giwa Military Barracks.
In a statement issued by the police spokesperson, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, the force confirmed that the fire incident triggered the detonation of some munitions, leading to the loud sounds and flashes seen across the city.
“On 30 April 2025 at 10:30 PM, a fire broke out in the ammunition facility at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri. The fire incident caused some munitions to detonate, resulting in loud bangs,” the statement read.
Daso added that a combined emergency response team involving security agencies and fire services swiftly arrived at the scene and successfully brought the fire under control.
He noted that preliminary investigations pointed to the extreme heat currently being experienced in Maiduguri as a potential cause of the outbreak.
“The command calls on all members of the public to remain calm and not to panic, as the situation is now fully under control,” Daso stated.
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Corroborating the police account, the Borno State Fire Service also released a statement confirming the incident. According to the fire service, the situation was jointly handled by the Nigerian Army Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service, and the Borno State Fire Service.
However, there may be secondary explosions that could disturb the neighborhood around the barracks. Members of the public should not panic on hearing loud bangs,” the statement advised.
It further noted that high ambient temperatures, which often peak during this time of year in Maiduguri, may have either ignited the fire or contributed to its rapid spread.
The fire services also assured residents that all emergency units remained on standby to manage any residual explosions or hazards from the incident.
As of Thursday morning, no casualties or significant property damage had been officially reported, and security around the barracks has since been reinforced to prevent civilian access to the affected area.
The incident underscores the ongoing challenges posed by extreme weather conditions and the need for heightened safety measures in military storage facilities.
