The Nigerian Army has confirmed that the deadly explosion that rocked a mosque in Borno State on Wednesday, December 24, was carried out by a Boko Haram suicide bomber.
The blast occurred at Al-Adum Jumaat Mosque in the Gamboru Market area of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council during the Maghrib prayer, throwing worshippers into panic and leaving multiple casualties.
Initial reports indicated that no fewer than five people lost their lives, while dozens sustained injuries in the attack.
Providing an update on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Theatre Command of Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, said investigations revealed that the incident was an act of terrorism carried out by a suspected Boko Haram operative.
According to him, the attacker detonated an improvised explosive device inside the mosque, killing himself and two civilians instantly. He added that security forces swiftly moved to the scene in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, other security agencies, the Borno State Government, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
“The area was immediately secured and cordoned off to prevent further casualties and ensure public safety,” Uba said.
He confirmed that victims were rushed to the General Hospital and the Teaching Hospital in Maiduguri for urgent medical care. While 32 civilians sustained varying degrees of injuries, two of the injured later died in hospital. Two others remain in critical condition, while the rest are said to be stable and responding to treatment.
The army spokesman reassured residents of Maiduguri and its environs that security has been tightened, especially during the festive season. He said troops and other security agencies have stepped up surveillance and patrols to prevent further attacks.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders and community stakeholders, with renewed calls for intensified efforts to end insurgency in the North-East.
