REVEALED: How Teenagers Hid Bomb in Food Flask to Attack Borno Hospital

Fresh details have emerged on the attempted bombing of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in Borno State, where three teenagers allegedly concealed explosives inside a food flask in a failed bid to infiltrate the facility.

The attackers were reportedly intercepted at the hospital’s entrance by vigilant security personnel.

Their plan, according to findings made available to POLITICS NIGERIA, was to gain access to the main building and detonate the device among patients and visitors.

The incident, which occurred on March 16, instead led to explosions at the hospital gate after the suspects were denied entry.

The attack turned deadly. At least 23 persons lost their lives, while 108 others were injured in the coordinated explosions that rocked parts of Maiduguri that day.

A security guard at the hospital, Ali Musa, gave a chilling account of how the incident unfolded. He described the suspects as young teenagers who tried to beat security checks by disguising themselves as relatives visiting patients.

According to him, the “dirty-looking teenagers” arrived at the hospital in a tricycle, commonly called Keke Napep, carrying a food flask to avoid suspicion.

He said, “We had heard about the bomb blast at the post office and immediately tightened security at our post. We were two on duty at the time, while others had gone to break their fast.”

Musa explained that the behaviour of the suspects immediately raised alarm.

“They were three in number—two boys and one rider of the tricycle. I think they were around 13 or 14 years old. They looked very unkempt. I suspected something was wrong with the way they drove in.

“Normally, when people approach, they are expected to slow down for security checks. But when the attackers came, they drove in at full speed. That signalled that something was wrong with the tricycle. So, I stopped them and asked them to go back. They initially objected but later reversed. They were staring at me with a terrifying look.”

He further narrated how the situation escalated within seconds.

“They were reversing the tricycle and, while doing that, one of them holding the flask threw it at me. I kicked the flask back, and it fell. I then heard a loud explosion and immediately lay flat on the ground. The impact affected my hand.

“After the blast, I tried to rush to where my colleague was standing to check on her, but I met her with a broken leg. I also saw an Almajiri boy lying on the ground.

“After I dragged the lady away, another bomb exploded not too far from that spot, so I jumped into a flower garden. Both my legs were affected,” he added.

A shop owner near the hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the account. She said the attackers were clearly targeting the hospital complex and intended to cause massive destruction.

“They (the suspected suicide bombers) wanted to blow up parts of the hospital,” she said.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities have yet to release a breakdown of casualties specific to the hospital explosion alone.

Further findings revealed that the violence in Maiduguri that day was not limited to the hospital incident.

Another explosion occurred at the popular Monday Market at about 7:05 pm, believed to have been carried out by a separate suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest.

Eyewitnesses described the market explosion as devastating, with one victim reportedly burnt beyond recognition.

A trader identified simply as Fati recounted the moment of panic that followed the blast.

“That night was terrifying. I have never seen anything like it in my life. I couldn’t get close to the scene because I rushed home immediately I heard the explosion. But I later heard that they found a boy whose body was completely destroyed. The impact on that boy was worse than on others, so they suspected he was the bomb carrier,” she said.

The twin attacks have heightened concerns over renewed insecurity in the state, especially involving the use of minors in violent operations.

In response, President Bola Tinubu ordered an immediate security reinforcement in Borno State. He directed top military officials to relocate to the state to oversee operations and curb further attacks.