A suicide bomber detonated explosives at the Gamboru Juma’at Mosque in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Wednesday, December 24, claiming the lives of several worshippers and injuring many others. The attack, which occurred during the Maghrib congregational prayer around 6:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., sparked fear and chaos, particularly as the mosque is situated in the busy Gamboru Main Market area, attracting many traders and residents.

According to initial reports, five worshippers were killed on the spot, and 35 others sustained various degrees of injuries. Officials of the mosque, which has a capacity for 50 to 60 people, noted that the building is typically very crowded due to market activities, making it a tragic target. Survivors recounted that the attacker infiltrated the mosque and detonated the bomb during the first raka’at of the Maghrib prayer. Hussaini Jidda, one of the injured victims receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), described seeing the bomber, who appeared unkempt and suspicious, enter the mosque just before the explosion. Another relative at UMTH mentioned counting at least seven fatalities from the mosque.

Emergency responders, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), police, military, and civilian JTF, swiftly mobilized to the scene. Surajo Garba, NEMA’s Head of Operations for Borno and Yobe states, confirmed that his team recovered three bodies from the mosque and reported one additional death among the 21 injured persons treated at the specialist hospital. The injured were transported to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the Borno State Specialist Hospital for urgent medical attention. The area was immediately cordoned off by security operatives, and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit was deployed to ensure no secondary devices were present and to commence investigations.

Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, officially confirmed five deaths and 35 injuries, stating that the suspected bomber used an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). He reassured the public that security agencies were thoroughly investigating the incident. Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, condemned the incident as