A massive explosion tore through the Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in the early hours of Tuesday, triggering a fierce inferno that gutted the military armoury. The incident, which occurred around midnight, has left residents of the surrounding communities in panic, with many attributing the blaze to the scorching heatwave sweeping across the region.
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According to eyewitnesses, the explosion was so powerful that it shook buildings several kilometres away, sending plumes of thick black smoke billowing into the night sky. Residents of nearby Gomari, Moduganari, and Wulari areas reported hearing multiple blasts, followed by sporadic gunfire, which heightened fears of a possible terrorist attack.
A senior military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the fire originated from the armoury, where munitions and explosives are stored. Preliminary investigations suggest that the extreme heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 40°C in recent days, may have triggered the spontaneous combustion of volatile materials stored in the facility.
“The heat was unbearable in the last few days. It’s likely that the high temperature caused some of the munitions to overheat, leading to the explosion,” the source disclosed. The source, however, ruled out any sabotage or insurgent activity, assuring that the situation was under control.
The fire, which raged for hours, destroyed a significant portion of the armoury, with unconfirmed reports suggesting that several military equipment and ammunition were lost. Firefighting units from the Borno State Fire Service and the military worked tirelessly to contain the inferno, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the barracks.
Speaking to our correspondent, a resident of Gomari, Mallam Musa Idris, described the chaos that ensued. “We heard a loud bang around midnight, and the ground shook. Everyone thought it was Boko Haram. People were running helter-skelter, but soldiers later told us to stay calm,” he said.
The spokesperson for the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Adekunle Adeshina, in a statement, confirmed the incident but downplayed its severity. “There was a fire outbreak at one of our facilities in Giwa Barracks, caused by environmental factors. The situation has been brought under control, and no lives were lost. An investigation is ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the damage,” the statement read.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of military installations in the Northeast, especially amid the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgents. Analysts have called for urgent measures to upgrade storage facilities to withstand extreme weather conditions, particularly in the face of climate change.
The Borno State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Bukar Gujba, urged residents to remain calm, assuring that the government was working with the military to prevent a recurrence. “We are in touch with the relevant authorities, and measures are being put in place to safeguard lives and property,” he said.
As of press time, the military had cordoned off the area, restricting access to the barracks while cleanup and assessment operations continued. The explosion has once again brought to the fore the challenges faced by security forces operating in volatile regions under harsh climatic conditions.
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