Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a suspected notorious gunrunner, Kelvin Ebikeniye Dugo, in Cross River State.

The arrest was made on Monday, March 16, 2026, at Ivara Esu Estate in Odukpani Local Government Area.

According to security sources, the operation was based on credible intelligence that Dugo was planning to take delivery of 850 rounds of live ammunition from Azenda Barnabas, also known as Jagaban, a gunrunner based in Aliade, Benue State.

DSS operatives intercepted Dugo shortly after he received the consignment, which had been cleverly concealed inside food items. Items recovered from him include 850 rounds of live ammunition and two empty AK-47 magazines.

The DSS described the arrest as part of its intensified nationwide crackdown on gunrunning syndicates and illegal arms proliferation.

“The Service has intensified its pursuit of such criminals, launching sustained operations across nearly all states of the Federation,” a source said.

The agency added that the operation is one of several ongoing efforts aimed at dismantling criminal networks involved in the illegal arms trade.

No further details have been released as investigations continue.

The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that 23 people were killed and 108 others injured in a series of suspected suicide bombings that struck three locations in Maiduguri on Monday evening.

In an official statement, Police Public Relations Officer Nahum Kenneth Daso said the coordinated attacks occurred around 7:24 p.m. on March 16, 2026, targeting the Maiduguri Monday Market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Post Office Flyover.

The explosions, believed to have been carried out with improvised explosive devices, were described as suspected suicide bombings. All 108 injured victims sustained varying degrees of injuries and were evacuated to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

Security forces, including police and military personnel, responded swiftly to the scenes. The Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit conducted sweep operations to ensure no additional threats remained, while the affected areas were cordoned off.

Borno State Commissioner of Police Naziru Abdulmajid visited the blast sites and assured residents that security had been intensified across the city.

He said investigations into the attacks are ongoing.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the incidents, which rank among the deadliest in Maiduguri in recent years.

A series of devastating bomb explosions struck central locations in Maiduguri on Monday evening, plunging the city into panic shortly after iftar during Ramadan.

The blasts, occurring around 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. local time (WAT), targeted high-traffic areas including the entrance to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), the crowded Monday Market, the Post Office/flyover area, and El-Kanemi roundabout according to resident reports and initial accounts.

The Borno State Police Command confirmed the incidents as suspected bomb attacks, with police spokesperson ASP Kenneth Daso stating that joint security forces, including explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) units, were rapidly deployed to the scenes.

Emergency responders have cordoned off affected zones, evacuated victims, and begun restoration efforts, with normalcy reportedly returning in some areas. Authorities suspect involvement of Boko Haram or ISWAP insurgents, possibly through suicide bombings or planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Casualty figures remain unconfirmed and fluid, with various sources describing scores feared dead and many injured, including civilians caught in crowded markets and near medical facilities.

Victims have been rushed to hospitals such as UMTH and the State Specialist Hospital. Official tallies from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other agencies are awaited pending full assessments.

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, currently performing the Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia, issued a strong condemnation of the attacks, calling them “despicable, cruel, and cowardly” particularly for striking during the sacred month of Ramadan when people gather for prayers and breaking fast.

He urged residents to stay calm while heightening vigilance in public spaces like markets, mosques, and hospitals, and assured that security agencies are investigating to apprehend those responsible.

The coordinated nature of the blasts hitting multiple central points despite extensive checkpoints and security measures around Maiduguri has raised serious questions among residents and analysts about intelligence failures and how explosives were positioned or transported into the city.

Social media footage and eyewitness accounts show chaos, with heavy security presence and emergency vehicles at the sites. The attacks come amid ongoing insurgency threats in the northeast, following recent clashes and prior incidents in the region.

Security operations continue, and further details on casualties, the exact devices used, and perpetrator identification are expected in coming hours.

Residents are advised to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to authorities.

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