Minister of Defence Christopher Musa has alleged that the March 2026 bomb attacks in Maiduguri were deliberately planned to stop President Bola Tinubu from travelling to the United Kingdom and weaken Nigeria’s position on the international stage.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on ARISE NEWS, Musa said recent terrorist incidents in the North-East were not random acts of violence but calculated attempts to achieve political objectives.
The attacks occurred on March 16, 2026, when multiple explosions ripped through Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, killing at least 23 people and injuring 146 others.
The blasts struck crowded locations including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), the Post Office area and the popular Monday Market during the Ramadan fasting period. Authorities said the attacks were believed to have been carried out using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), with suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP militants blamed for the bombings.
Musa argued that the attack was specifically timed to coincide with the President’s planned visit to the UK.
“The last ones that happened in Maiduguri were meant to dissuade the president from visiting the UK. It was deliberate,” he said.
According to the minister, those behind the attack intended either to prevent the trip entirely or diminish the President’s standing during the visit.
“And if you look at it, who and why, what was the intent? The intent is to make sure that the president doesn’t go there, or even if he goes there, he doesn’t have any leverage to want to speak.”
Musa maintained that the attacks demonstrated a deliberate effort by hostile actors to project an image of instability in the country.
“And to tell you that it’s intentional, people deliberately planned that and conducted that just to make that point.”
The defence minister described the incident as unfortunate and urged Nigerians not to allow themselves to be manipulated by those seeking to destabilise the country.
“It’s very unfortunate, but we want to appeal to Nigerians, not to allow anybody to use them for whatever reason.”
He stressed that preserving peace and stability remained a collective responsibility, warning of the consequences of allowing insecurity to undermine the nation.
“Your country is your country. If you allow your country to get destroyed, you’ll go to any somebody’s country, you’ll be a second class.”
Musa called for national unity in confronting insecurity and preventing further attacks.
“It’s important that we come together, address this issue, and stop it.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
