General News
“They Went to Prepare for Sallah, But Never Returned”: Father Loses Four Sons in Maiduguri Bomb Blasts
A father’s joy ahead of Sallah has turned into unimaginable grief in Maiduguri after four of his sons were killed in a series of bomb explosions that rocked the city.
The attacks, which occurred near the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital gate, Monday Market roundabout and the Post Office area, left at least 27 people dead and many others injured.
For Ba Musa, a resident of Gwange Sabon Layi, the tragedy is deeply personal. His four sons had stepped out shortly after breaking their fast to buy eyeglasses for the Sallah celebration.
They had earlier received new clothes and shoes from their father a simple preparation for the festive season that ended in disaster.
“They went to buy eyeglasses for Sallah… and that was the last time anyone saw them alive,” a neighbour, Usman Lawan, said as he recounted the heartbreaking loss. The children were later buried, leaving their family and community in mourning.
Lawan himself survived the explosion but lost his means of livelihood. “We had just finished Iftar when the blast happened. I found myself in the hospital. Everything I had is gone,” he said.
At the scene near the hospital, a security guard who sustained injuries narrated how the attackers struck. According to him, three men on a motorbike attempted to gain entry into the facility. When he refused, they returned and threw explosive devices at him.
“I noticed something suspicious and stopped them. They came back and threw a container at me. It exploded… as I tried to run, another one hit my leg,” he said.
Another victim, a grieving mother, lost her daughter in the blast. She described the painful moment her child died beside her. “We had just arrived at the hospital when the bomb went off. I fell, and my daughter fell lifeless… they told me she was gone,” she said.
Many petty traders were also caught in the explosions, losing both their goods and source of income. Some of the injured are receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and other medical facilities across the city.
Victims have appealed for urgent government assistance, saying recovery will be difficult without financial support. “In a few minutes, everything we worked for was destroyed,” one of the traders said from his hospital bed.
Reacting to the incident, the Arewa Consultative Forum called for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s security strategy, warning that the country risks deeper instability if decisive action is not taken.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited victims at the hospital, condemned the attack, describing it as barbaric and unjustifiable.
He assured affected families of government support and reiterated the administration’s resolve to end terrorism.
The management of Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) in Lagos has announced the introduction of a cashless payment system for its multi-storey car park.
The new system is set to take effect from Monday, March 23, as part of efforts to improve efficiency, enhance security, and streamline operations at the terminal.
According to the management, the move will eliminate cash transactions within the facility, allowing motorists and airport users to make payments electronically using approved digital channels.
The development is expected to reduce delays, curb revenue leakages, and provide a more convenient parking experience for passengers and visitors.
Airport users are therefore advised to prepare for the transition by ensuring they have access to electronic payment options ahead of the implementation date.
President Bola Tinubu early Friday arrived in Lagos following a two-day historic state visit to the United Kingdom, where he engaged in high-level diplomatic and economic discussions.
The President, accompanied by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, touched down at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 1:15 a.m.
He was received on arrival by Lagos State Deputy Governor, Femi Hamzat; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; wife of the Lagos State Governor, Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; and other All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts.
Crowd welcoming President Tinubu
The development was confirmed in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga on March 20, 2026.
As part of activities marking Eid-el-Fitr, President Tinubu is expected to observe prayers at the Eid prayer ground in Dodan Barracks, Lagos.
In his Sallah message, the President urged Nigerian Muslims to uphold the core values of Ramadan, including piety, empathy, unity, and compassion.
“We have much to draw from the noble lessons of Ramadan, especially at a time like this. We must continue to abide by the virtues of piety, selflessness, perseverance, kindness, and compassion beyond this period,” he said.
Prior to his return, President Tinubu met with British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at 10 Downing Street, where both leaders agreed on a £746 million deal to refurbish two major ports in Lagos.
The President described the visit Nigeria’s first state visit to the UK in 37 years as “very thrilling and significant,” noting its importance in strengthening bilateral relations.
“We cannot forget the institutional development we have enjoyed over the years,” he stated ahead of bilateral talks, adding that discussions covered trade, the economy, climate change, terrorism, and broader global challenges.
During the visit, President Tinubu and the First Lady were hosted by King Charles III at a State Banquet held at Windsor Castle.
Talking about the longstanding ties between both nations, Tinubu said, “Our two nations share a vision of progress and resilience. Today, we continue that journey, committed to building a future rooted in partnership, mutual respect, and common values.”
The Nigerian leader was earlier received by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, where he inspected a guard of honour and witnessed a ceremonial 42-gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended warm greetings to Muslims in Nigeria and across the world as they celebrate Eid-el-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the President urged Muslim faithful to uphold the values of piety, compassion, and unity imbibed during the fasting period, stressing the need for renewed commitment to national development and peaceful coexistence.
Tinubu noted that the lessons of Ramadan; self-discipline, sacrifice, and empathy remain critical, particularly at a time when the nation requires collective effort and understanding among its citizens.
He encouraged Muslims to sustain these virtues beyond the festive period, emphasizing the importance of kindness, perseverance, and selflessness in everyday life.
Thepresidentt also called on the Muslim community to extend generosity to the less privileged, regardless of religious background, as a demonstration of unity and shared humanity.
Furthermore, he urged religious leaders to use the occasion to pray for lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in Nigeria.
The statement was signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.