Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu described the attacks as “the final desperate” acts of militants seeking to spread fear, but security analysts said the scale and coordination of the bombings suggest strength rather than decline.

The assault on Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State and the birthplace of the insurgency, involved multiple suicide bombers targeting an urban center long fortified by security forces.

Experts said the incident indicated failures in intelligence and surveillance, allowing militants to penetrate one of the country’s most secured cities.

It remains unclear which group carried out the attack, underscoring the fragmented nature of the insurgency involving Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an Islamic State-affiliated faction.

Analysts said recent attacks attributed to both Boko Haram and ISWAP raise the possibility of coordination between the rival groups, which have historically operated separately but share overlapping objectives.

“We have to see this as the groups oozing confidence in their ability to wreak terror in that part of the country,” said Ikemesit Effiong, a partner at SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based risk advisory firm.

“We think this is the start of a spate of bombings, not just in Maiduguri but also less protected urban areas in the northeast,” he said.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a crisis monitoring group, said the attack was the deadliest suicide bombing in Nigeria in seven years.

President Tinubu said he had approved additional equipment and support for the military, reiterating pledges by successive administrations to defeat the insurgents.

Nigeria has fought Islamist militants since 2009, when Boko Haram launched an uprising aimed at establishing an Islamic state. The group was driven from major urban areas after a military crackdown, but it later splintered into factions.

One faction aligned with Islamic State has emerged as the most powerful, controlling parts of northeastern Nigeria and maintaining operational capabilities.

As violence has expanded to other regions, including the northwest, the United States has conducted air strikes and deployed military advisers in support roles, though it remains unclear whether U.S. forces will be involved in responding to the latest attacks.

Despite sustained military operations, analysts said militant groups have entrenched themselves in rural areas, enabling them to regroup and launch attacks intermittently.

Vincent Foucher, a senior research fellow at France’s National Centre for Scientific Research, said insurgent groups have maintained a presence over time, adapting their tactics and exploiting gaps in governance and security.

The latest bombings illustrate the enduring challenge posed by the insurgency, which has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions across the region.

Katz said in a statement that the operation targeted Khatib as part of Israel’s ongoing military actions against senior Iranian officials. He added that he and Netanyahu had granted the military authority to eliminate additional high-ranking Iranian figures without requiring further approval.

Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed Khatib’s death, and there has been no immediate response from Tehran regarding the Israeli claim. The absence of verification leaves the status of the Iranian intelligence chief unclear.

Katz’s remarks indicate a potential broadening of Israel’s operational mandate, suggesting a shift toward faster decision-making in targeting senior adversaries. The authorization to proceed without additional political clearance points to heightened tensions and a more aggressive posture.

Regional implicationsThe reported strike, if confirmed, could mark a significant escalation in the confrontation between Israel and Iran, particularly given the seniority of the alleged target. Developments are likely to be closely monitored for their impact on regional stability and the risk of further retaliatory actions.

Speaking to reporters at the White House during a St. Patrick’s Day visit by Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Trump said allied governments had expressed support for U.S. and Israeli actions but were unwilling to provide direct military assistance.

Trump noted that several allied countries had indicated they had no immediate plans to deploy naval forces to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass.

The comments followed calls by the U.S. administration for international support to maintain shipping access after Iran responded to joint U.S.-Israeli strikes with drones, missiles and naval mines that have effectively hindered tanker traffic.

Despite the criticism, Trump said he had “nothing currently in mind” when asked whether Washington would retaliate against allies for their stance.

“I think NATO is making a very foolish mistake,” Trump said. “Everyone agrees with us, but they don’t want to help.”

Earlier in the day, Trump struck a different tone on social media, stating that the United States no longer needed NATO assistance due to what he described as “Military Success” in the ongoing conflict, now in its third week.

In that statement, he also singled out non-NATO partners Japan, Australia and South Korea, without elaborating on their roles.

Trump has previously raised the possibility of withdrawing the United States from NATO, though he did not revisit that position in his latest remarks.

The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has heightened concerns about global energy supplies, as disruptions in the narrow waterway can have immediate implications for oil markets and shipping routes.

The reluctance of NATO allies to engage militarily underscores divisions within the alliance over involvement in the conflict, even as diplomatic backing for U.S. actions appears to remain intact.

Babagana Zulum said the blasts caused casualties and injuries, condemning the attacks as “utterly condemnable, barbaric, and inhumane,” though he did not provide a breakdown of victims or identify those responsible.

Security sources and residents said the first explosion occurred at a post office in the city centre, followed shortly by another at the popular Monday market nearby.

Additional blasts were reported at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and in the Kaleri neighbourhood in the eastern part of the city.Witnesses said they saw bodies at the market site, but the number of casualties and the cause of the explosions were not immediately confirmed.

Police spokesperson Nahum Daso Kenneth said security personnel and emergency responders were deployed to affected areas following the incidents.

Authorities urged residents to remain calm and avoid blast sites while assessments and rescue efforts continued.

The attacks came hours after the Nigerian military said it had repelled assaults on the outskirts of Maiduguri by suspected Islamist insurgents.

Militant groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have intensified operations in Borno State in recent weeks, targeting military bases, killing troops and seizing weapons.

The Taliban said at least 400 people were killed and 250 injured in the strike, which it said hit a drug rehabilitation hospital, while Pakistan rejected the claim, saying it targeted military installations and “terrorist support infrastructure.

Pakistan had long been a key backer of the Taliban, supporting its emergence in the 1990s as part of a broader strategy to secure “strategic depth” in its rivalry with India.

Relations initially appeared strong after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with then-prime minister Imran Khan welcoming the development. However, ties deteriorated as Islamabad accused Kabul of failing to curb militant groups operating from Afghan territory.

Pakistan says leaders and fighters of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan are based in Afghanistan and have intensified attacks inside Pakistan. It also accuses Afghan territory of being used by Baloch insurgents.

Violence linked to these groups has risen steadily since 2022, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, contributing to mounting pressure on Islamabad to act.

The Taliban deny providing safe haven to militants targeting Pakistan and counter that Islamabad harbours fighters linked to Islamic State, Pakistan rejects.

The latest strike follows weeks of intensifying clashes, including Pakistani air and ground operations targeting Taliban positions and infrastructure along the border. Officials said those actions came after attacks by Afghan forces on Pakistani border posts.

Pakistan’s defence minister has described the situation as amounting to an “open war,” reflecting the scale of the confrontation.Earlier attempts to stabilise the situation, including a ceasefire mediated by Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have failed to hold.

Repeated border clashes, closures and disruptions to trade have further strained ties between the neighbours, signalling a breakdown in what was once a closely aligned relationship.

Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Abdullah II made the remarks during a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Monday, where they discussed intensifying military activity and its implications for regional security, according to the Jordan News Agency.

The two leaders condemned what they described as Iranian aggression, saying recent attacks targeted their countries and violated sovereignty as well as international law. Their statements were also carried by the Emirates News Agency.

They warned that continued escalation posed risks not only to regional stability but also to global peace and security.Arab stance on conflictBoth leaders reiterated that Arab countries had neither initiated nor participated in the conflict, which they said began on Feb. 28.

Instead, Gulf and broader Arab states have focused on containing the crisis and preventing it from widening.They pointed to ongoing diplomatic efforts by the Gulf Cooperation Council and other regional actors aimed at reducing tensions.

The leaders stressed the need to halt military escalation and prioritise dialogue, urging a return to diplomatic channels to address the crisis.

Their meeting comes amid growing concerns over the spillover effects of the conflict, including threats to national sovereignty and disruptions to regional security dynamics.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, Al-Sharaa raised concerns during the conversation about recent shelling near the border town and alleged movements of Hezbollah fighters near Syrian army positions. Syrian authorities said artillery fire launched from Lebanese territory had landed close to Serghaya, a town located west of the Syrian capital.

During the discussion, Al-Sharaa expressed support for efforts by the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah, describing the move as an important step toward strengthening Lebanese sovereignty and reducing the risk of wider regional instability.

The Syrian president also emphasized the need for coordinated measures between Damascus and Beirut to safeguard civilians and prevent further escalation along the border region.

The conversation between the two leaders took place as tensions across the Middle East have intensified following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran that began on Feb. 28, according to regional reports. The escalation has contributed to population movements and security concerns across neighboring states.

Thousands of Syrians who had fled to Lebanon during the 13-year Syrian civil war have returned home in recent days as the conflict expanded across parts of the region.

Israel has carried out strikes across several locations in the Middle East as hostilities involving Iran and its allies intensified. Hezbollah, a close ally of Tehran that is designated as a terrorist organization by Britain and several other countries, has also launched attacks into Israel.

Israeli forces have responded with air strikes targeting Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon and southern Beirut. Israeli troops have also moved into key areas south of the Litani River amid the ongoing confrontation.

A spokesperson for the Israeli military did not immediately comment when asked about the Hezbollah statement.

Hezbollah said the clash occurred after Israeli forces conducted an airborne operation in eastern Lebanon, an area where the group maintains a presence. The statement did not provide further details on the scale of the raid or whether there were casualties.

The reported raid comes amid intensifying hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which have exchanged attacks since the conflict escalated last week. The war marks one of the most serious confrontations between Israel and the Lebanese armed group in years.

Israeli officials have said the military campaign is aimed at weakening Hezbollah’s operational and financial capabilities.

Separately, the Israeli military said it planned to strike a financial body associated with Hezbollah, according to a statement, underscoring Israel’s effort to disrupt the group’s funding channels as the fighting continues.

Hezbollah, backed by Iran and one of the most heavily armed non-state groups in the Middle East, has long maintained military infrastructure across parts of Lebanon, including areas close to the Israeli border.

The ministry said the deployments were made “in the context of the latest developments in our region,” adding that additional measures could be taken depending on how the situation evolves.

European powers have stepped up military activity on the divided Mediterranean island since a drone struck Britain’s RAF Akrotiri air base in Cyprus last week. Security officials believe the drone was launched by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group.

The Turkish defence ministry said six F-16 jets along with air defence systems had been positioned in northern Cyprus, which Ankara recognises as an independent state.

“As a result of the evaluations to be made depending on the developments, additional measures will continue to be taken if necessary,” the ministry said in a statement.

The island of Cyprus has been divided for decades between the internationally recognised government in the south and the Turkish Cypriot administration in the north. Ankara does not recognise the Greek Cypriot government, which is a member of the European Union.

Nikos Christodoulides, the Greek Cypriot president, said the Turkish deployments were a response to recent European statements asserting that the island’s security falls under the responsibility of the European Union.Speaking to Greek newspaper Kathimerini, he described Turkey as an “occupying power” in Cyprus.

Tufan Erhurman, leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, criticised the remarks and said the focus should instead be on ensuring security for the entire island and both communities.

Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party, said the deployment was not aimed at any country but intended to strengthen security and maintain the balance of power on the island.“But we must add this: other steps may come too, whether it is air defence systems, drone centres,”

The latest move follows a regional security incident last week when NATO defences intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran that entered Turkish airspace. Ankara warned Tehran on Saturday against launching further missiles toward its territory.