Maiduguri bombing raises fear of resurgence of suicide attacks

The deadly explosions that rocked Maiduguri on Monday may signal a troubling resurgence of bombing attacks in Nigeria’s northeast, with analysts warning the assault reflects militant strength rather than desperation.

At least 23 people were killed in coordinated explosions across three locations in the Borno State capital — an attack experts say exposes security gaps in one of the country’s most heavily fortified cities.

President Bola Tinubu described the incident as “the final desperate” acts of militants, but security analysts disagree.

“We have to see this as the groups oozing confidence in their ability to wreck terror,” Ikemesit Effiong, partner at SBM Intelligence told Reuters.

“We think this is the start of a spate of bombings, not just in Maiduguri but also less protected urban areas in the northeast,” he added.

Data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) shows the attack is the deadliest suicide bombing in Nigeria in seven years, raising fears that a tactic once synonymous with the early years of the insurgency could be returning.

Intelligence gaps, renewed threats

Analysts say the ability to carry out near-simultaneous attacks in a city that hosts major military installations points to serious intelligence failures.

“How were THREE locations identified and targeted without intelligence picking up anything, especially as the Monday Market blast seemed to target a police post?” conflict researcher Malik Samuel of Good Governance Africa asked on X.

“Were the explosives assembled within Maiduguri (most likely) or brought in from outside? If brought in from outside, how did they circumvent the checkpoints and security presence in and around Maiduguri? If assembled within Maiduguri, how were the bomb making items secured? Where in Maiduguri were they assembled and how were they transported that no one saw anything?”

The attack also comes just months after a previous explosion in the city on December 24, 2025, raising questions about whether lessons were learned from earlier incidents.

Boko Haram tactics resurface

While no group has claimed responsibility, analysts say the use of suicide bombers points more strongly to Boko Haram, which has historically relied on such tactics, unlike its rival, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

However, some experts say the scale and coordination of the attack could suggest collaboration between the rival factions, both of which have intensified attacks in recent weeks.

Nigeria’s insurgency, which began in 2009, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, evolving into a complex conflict with multiple armed groups controlling rural areas while the military maintains a presence in major towns.

Despite repeated military offensives, analysts say militant groups remain deeply embedded and capable of regrouping quickly.