A suicide bomb attack rocked the Gamboru Juma’at Mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Wednesday during prayers, claiming the lives of five worshippers and leaving up to 40 others injured. The Chief Imam, Ustaz Al-Ali Muhammad, recounted the terrifying moments to Daily Trust, stating he initially mistook the explosion for a solar battery malfunction before witnessing the suicide bomber’s blood on the wall, leading to widespread panic and screams.

The incident sent shockwaves through the mosque and its surroundings, with worshippers struggling to escape amidst confusion and fear. The Imam announced that the mosque would remain closed until security agencies provided clearance, after which former security arrangements, including thorough searches of worshippers by youths, would be reinstated. A day after the attack, a palpable sense of fear lingered in Maiduguri, prompting increased anxiety around places of worship and leading to heightened security patrols that slowed business activities, particularly during the Christmas season.

The Borno State Police Command confirmed ongoing investigations to identify those behind the attack, with Police spokesperson ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso reporting no increase in the death toll. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed 40 people sustained injuries in the blast. Mr. Surajo Garba, NEMA's Head of Operations for Borno and Yobe states, specified that 25 victims were admitted to the State Specialist Hospital, while 15 were receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), with two initially in critical condition now moved to wards and responding to treatment.

Survivors shared their harrowing experiences. Baan Kawuri recalled a deafening sound, finding himself on the ground unable to hear, only realizing his situation upon waking in the hospital. Another survivor, Mustafa Bunu, who sustained a leg injury, pleaded with the government and security agencies for heightened vigilance across the city, lamenting the immediate loss of two boys who worked for him. Christian residents also reported tightened security measures during church services in the wake of the attack, with thorough searches and questioning of strangers.

The Nigerian Army's Operation Hadin Kai headquarters officially confirmed that Boko Haram elements were responsible for the bomb blast at the Gamboru Juma’at Mosque. Lt Col Sani Uba, the Theatre Command’s spokesperson, stated that preliminary findings indicated the incident was caused by a suspected Boko Haram terrorist suicide bomber who detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), killing himself and two civilians at the scene. He also assured residents of intensified surveillance and security measures during the festive season.

Vice President Kashim Shettima condemned the attack as a “despicable assault on innocent citizens and the peace of the nation,” announcing the federal government’s deployment of additional tactical teams to Maiduguri to track down and apprehend those responsible. Shettima confirmed that President Bola Tinubu had ordered an immediate intensification of security operations in Borno, with close collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies to protect vulnerable communities. He expressed confidence in the security architecture to apprehend perpetrators and unravel the full circumstances of the incident.

The Northern State Governors Forum (NSGF), through its Chairman and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, also condemned the “barbaric, dastardly and cowardly” suicide attack, describing it as an attempt to instill fear and undermine peace. The forum extended heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Borno State, particularly Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, and to the families of the deceased and injured, emphasizing that targeting a place of worship is a grave violation of human conscience and religious sanctity, and only reinforces the region's resolve against terrorism and violent extremism.