25 killed in triple suicide bombing in northeastern Nigeria

The death toll from a triple suicide bombing in northeastern Nigeria has risen to 25 after blasts struck a market, a major hospital and an overpass in the city of Maiduguri, according to officials. More than 100 others were injured.

The blasts happened at about 7:24 p.m. Monday in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state in northeastern Nigeria. The Borno State Police Command said the attacks hit the Maiduguri Monday Market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the Post Office flyover area.

Police said preliminary findings indicate the attacks were carried out by suspected suicide bombers. The command initially said 23 people were killed, but Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima later said the toll had risen to 25.

Police said victims were evacuated by emergency responders, including Nigeria’s national and state emergency management agencies, and taken to medical facilities for treatment.

After the blasts, police tactical units, the military and other joint security personnel were deployed to the affected areas. Police said the scenes were secured and bomb disposal officers carried out sweep operations to check for any additional threats.

The Borno State Police Command later said normalcy had been restored in the affected areas and that security had been increased across Maiduguri and nearby areas.

Maiduguri is the largest city in northeastern Nigeria and has long been at the center of the Islamist insurgency led by Boko Haram and its splinter rival ISWAP. The city has repeatedly been targeted in bombings and other attacks over the years.

The bombings came hours after police said joint security forces had repelled attempted infiltrations by suspected Boko Haram or ISWAP fighters in the Kofa area on the outskirts of Maiduguri. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blasts.