The Borno State Fire Service has said that extreme weather conditions could be responsible for the explosion that occurred at the ammunition storage area in Giwa Military Barracks, Maiduguri.
The incident happened late on Wednesday night, April 30, 2025, around 10:30 p.m.
According to a statement issued by the Directorate of Fire Service under the Ministry of Information and Internal Security, the blast followed a sudden fire outbreak that affected part of the military facility.
It noted that the fire started in the armoury, where ammunition is kept, and some of the stored explosives went off during the blaze.
“This is to inform the public that on Wednesday, 30 April 2025, at 10.30 pm, there was a report of a fire outbreak at Giwa Barracks Maiduguri,” the official statement read. “The fire incident affected the ammunition facility within the barracks, and some munitions exploded, causing loud bangs.”
Officials noted that weather conditions in the region—particularly the extreme heat typically experienced around this time of the year—might have played a key role in the incident. The statement added that preliminary findings point to the possibility that the high temperature could have either started the fire or worsened it.
A team of firefighters from the Nigerian Army Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service, and the Borno State Fire Service responded quickly to the emergency. The fire was eventually brought under control by the joint effort of the response teams.
“A combined team of first responders from the Nigerian Army Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and Borno State Fire Service have duly reported at the scene and successfully put out the fire,” the statement said.
The fire service also advised residents of Maiduguri not to panic if they hear loud noises in the coming days, as some secondary explosions could still happen.
“However, there may be secondary explosions which may disturb the neighbourhood around the barracks. Members of the public should not panic on hearing loud bangs,” it stated.
