Two brothers, Sanni Muhammad, 35, and Bashir Muhammad, 17, have recounted how they narrowly escaped the deadly bombing in Maiduguri that claimed 28 lives and left 108 others injured on Monday evening.

The attack, reportedly carried out by suspected suicide bombers, targeted multiple locations, including the Post Office Flyover, the Monday Market axis, and the entrance of the University Teaching Hospital.

The Borno State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the coordinated explosions.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, said security operatives swiftly secured the affected areas.

“The scenes were immediately secured, cordoned off, and subjected to thorough sweep operations by the Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit… to rule out the presence of any additional threats,” he said.

Recounting their experience in an interview, Sanni Muhammad said the explosion occurred just minutes before they would have arrived at the Monday Market.

According to him, he had initially planned to send his younger brother to collect some purchased items but later decided they should go together.

“We left our house around 6:45 p.m. to pick up some items, including food and a cloth I had earlier paid for. Due to other engagements, I couldn’t go earlier,” he said.

He explained that an unexpected delay in traffic altered their timing.

“There was a brief delay caused by a vehicle at the traffic light after NTA. I can’t recall clearly, but I think the car stalled when the light turned green. People were complaining because it was around Iftar time.

“Who knows if my brother and I would have been at that exact spot if that had not happened? We likely would have been there because of the speed the tricycle rider was moving,” he added.

While expressing gratitude for their survival, Sanni sympathised with victims and called for increased surveillance across the city.

Reacting to the incident, the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, condemned the attack, describing it as “despicable, cruel and cowardly.”

Zulum, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, expressed condolences to victims and their families in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those injured. The act is utterly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane,” the governor said.

He linked the recent surge in attacks to intensified military operations targeting insurgent hideouts in the Sambisa Forest and surrounding areas.

The governor assured residents that security agencies are in control of the situation and that measures have been reinforced to prevent further breaches in Maiduguri and across the state.