CNG Issues Stark Warning After Coordinated Bomb Attacks Rock Maiduguri
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has issued a forceful condemnation of the recent deadly bomb explosions in Maiduguri, Borno State, cautioning that Nigeria must not be allowed to regress into the dark era of widespread terrorism that previously plagued the North-East region. Multiple coordinated blasts struck the northeastern city on the evening of March 16, 2026, targeting critical locations including the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the bustling Monday Market, and the Post Office area, shattering what the coalition described as a fragile peace painstakingly rebuilt after years of brutal insurgency.
Barbaric Acts and Calls for Leadership
In a strongly worded statement, CNG National Coordinator Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi labeled the attacks as barbaric and cowardly, signaling a troubling resurgence of terrorist elements testing the nation's resolve. Let this be stated with absolute clarity: Nigeria must never, and will never, return to the dark days of bomb blasts, fear, and mass killings. Never again, Charanchi declared. He emphasized that these despicable acts constitute not only assaults on innocent lives but also on collective humanity, national stability, and the delicate peace that residents of Maiduguri and the entire North-East have worked tirelessly to restore.
The coalition extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the government and people of Borno State, and the Shehu of Borno, while praying for the swift recovery of those injured. CNG called for urgent and decisive action from the Federal Government, Borno State Government, and security agencies, urging them to move beyond routine responses and confront this renewed threat with unwavering determination.
Concerns Over Foreign Troops and Security Strategy
Charanchi expressed deep concern over a resurgence of Boko Haram activity in parts of the North-East, warning that it coincides with the controversial deployment of American troops, which CNG opposed from the outset. Nigeria has the capacity and institutional strength to tackle its security challenges without reliance on foreign forces, whose presence may complicate the situation, he asserted. He stressed that security strategies must be firmly anchored on national interest, accountability, and transparency to effectively combat terrorism.
Additionally, Charanchi urged authorities to intensify efforts to identify and prosecute sponsors and financiers of terrorism, stating that those who fund and sustain terror must be tracked, prosecuted, and dealt with decisively, regardless of status or connections. The coalition underscored that leadership at the highest level is critical during such crises, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cut short his trip to the United Kingdom and return to Nigeria to take direct charge of the security situation.
Plea for Vigilance and Permanent Eradication
CNG highlighted that the resurgence of such attacks serves as a painful reminder that terrorism, though degraded, has not been completely defeated. It requires a renewed strategy, stronger intelligence coordination, and visible leadership at all levels to ensure permanent eradication. The coalition urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies while demanding accountability and decisive action from those tasked with protecting lives and property.
The people of Maiduguri have suffered enough. The North-East has paid a heavy price. Nigeria must not be dragged backward into an era we have collectively resisted with great sacrifice, Charanchi concluded, emphasizing that terror must never be allowed to take root again—not in Maiduguri, not in the North, and not anywhere in Nigeria.
