The Borno State Police Command has urged residents of Maiduguri, the state capital, to remain calm following an explosion that occurred on Wednesday night at Giwa Barracks.
The command clarified that the incident was not the result of an enemy attack but rather a “friendly-fire” incident originating from within the barracks’ armoury.
In an official statement, police spokesperson Nahum Daso stated that preliminary findings indicated the blast came from the munitions storage facility at the barracks.
The statement read: “Following reports of explosions heard in Maiduguri, preliminary investigations indicate that the detonation originated from a friendly-fire incident at Giwa Barracks armoury.
“No enemy attack has been recorded, and the security situation remains firmly under control.”
Daso added that security personnel, including bomb disposal experts and fire services, had been deployed to the scene and were actively working to extinguish the blaze.
“We call on members of the public to remain calm, as the situation is under control. Further details and updates will be provided as more information becomes available,” he said.
In a related statement, the Borno State Government suggested that the explosion may have been caused by the region’s current extreme heat.
The Directorate of Fire Service, under the Ministry of Information and Internal Security, confirmed that the fire had affected the barracks’ ammunition facility, leading to multiple loud detonations.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the intense heat currently being experienced in Maiduguri may have triggered or worsened the fire,” the statement noted.
A combined emergency response team comprising the Nigerian Army Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service, and the Borno State Fire Service responded promptly and successfully extinguished the blaze.
