Explosions Rock Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri: Military Blames Heatwave for Fire Outbreak, Urges Calm
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — May 1, 2025 — A massive fire outbreak at Giwa Militaryhttp://MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — May 1, 2025 — A massive fire outbreak at Giwa Military Barracks in Maiduguri triggered a series of powerful explosions late Wednesday night, causing panic and mass evacuations in surrounding neighborhoods. Military authorities have attributed the incident to extreme heat conditions currently affecting the region.
The explosions, which began around 11:35 p.m. on April 30 and continued into the early hours of May 1, sent shockwaves across Maiduguri, with residents reporting loud bangs and visible fireballs from miles away.
According to a senior military officer who spoke to SpringNewsNG Media Limited, the fire started in the armoury section of the barracks, leading to the detonation of stored munitions. “This was not a terrorist attack. A section of the barracks caught fire, resulting in the explosions,” he clarified.
Eyewitness Bunu Bukar described the scene as chaotic. “The explosions were so intense that firefighters had to pull back for safety. Thousands of residents near the barracks fled their homes,” he said.
Another resident, Danjuma Salisu of the State Assembly Quarters, said people scrambled for safety. “We ran to Tashan Bama, only to find other displaced residents already there. It was terrifying,” he recounted.
Addressing the incident, Borno State Deputy Governor Dr. Umar Usman Kadafur confirmed the explosions were not linked to Boko Haram or any external attack. “The fire outbreak at Giwa Barracks’ ammunition depot caused the blasts. A combined team of the Nigerian Army Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, and Borno State Fire Service responded swiftly and successfully contained the fire,” he stated.
He added that preliminary investigations suggest Maiduguri’s extreme heatwave may have triggered the fire, urging the public to remain calm and indoors.
Captain Reuben Kovangiya, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Theatre Command, Operation HADIN KAI, also released a statement confirming the cause. “The explosions resulted from high temperatures leading to the ignition of explosives stored at the barracks. The situation is now under control, and troops have been deployed to secure the area,” he said.
Authorities have urged residents to disregard rumors of terrorist involvement and to cooperate with security forces as investigations continue.
