A deadly bomb explosion rocked the Al-Adum Mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, Borno State, on Wednesday evening around 6:00 p.m., claiming the lives of at least five worshippers and leaving 35 others injured. The blast occurred as congregants gathered for Maghrib prayers, plunging the busy market area into panic and chaos.

Eyewitnesses described a scene of devastation, with the explosion ripping through part of the mosque and causing thick smoke to billow from the affected section. While some bystanders attempted to assist victims, security operatives swiftly cordoned off the area to facilitate emergency operations and prevent further casualties. The Nigerian Army's Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), through its Media Information Officer Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, confirmed the incident, initially reporting four deaths and 32 injuries, with two of the injured later succumbing. However, the Borno State Police Command, in a press release dated December 24, 2025, and signed by Police Public Relations Officer ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, confirmed five fatalities and 35 injuries.

Preliminary investigations by both the OPHK and the police suggest the incident was a suicide bombing. Lt.-Col. Uba stated initial findings indicated a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device (IED), killing himself and two civilians at the scene. The police command's investigations further supported this, based on the recovery of fragments of a suspected suicide vest and witness statements. Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, alongside the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, other security agencies, the Borno State Government, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), responded immediately. Casualties were evacuated to the General Hospital, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), and the State Specialist Hospital for treatment, while the EOD unit conducted thorough sweeping operations for any secondary devices.

In response to the attack, the Borno State Police Command intensified security operations across Maiduguri and other key areas. ASP Nahum Daso confirmed the deployment of over 1,000 police officers within the metropolis, expanding existing security measures ahead of the Christmas celebrations. This coordinated effort involves full deployment of security personnel to churches, recreational centres, and other strategic locations where large gatherings are anticipated. Daso emphasized that while security arrangements were already in place, the mosque attack necessitated a significant intensification of these operations.

As a key preventive measure, enhanced screening protocols have been introduced at places of worship. Worshippers will now be subjected to security checks before gaining access to churches and mosques. The police spokesperson urged residents to remain calm, go about their lawful activities, and maintain a high level of vigilance, stressing the importance of promptly reporting any suspicious movements or individuals to emergency response numbers.

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum vehemently condemned the attack, describing it as a “barbaric and inhumane act” that desecrated a place of worship. In a statement issued Wednesday night by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, the governor expressed profound grief over the loss of lives and called for heightened vigilance, particularly at religious centres during the festive season. He extended condolences to the victims' families and assured residents that additional measures were in place to prevent further security breaches.

Vice President Kashim Shettima also strongly condemned the explosion, calling it a “despicable assault on innocent citizens and a direct attack on Nigeria’s peace and security.” In a statement released on Thursday (Christmas Day) by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had ordered the immediate intensification of security operations across Borno State. The Vice President affirmed the Federal Government's unwavering commitment to national security, stating that additional tactical teams had been deployed to track down and apprehend those responsible for the heinous crime, and that all necessary resources would be provided to security agencies to decisively defeat terrorism.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the Christmas Eve explosion, describing it as another tragic indicator of Nigeria’s worsening security situation and a failure of the current administration to protect lives and property. In a press statement dated December 24, 2025, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP expressed sympathy with the victims and warned that unchecked attacks on places of worship could undermine constitutional rights and create an atmosphere of fear. The party urged both federal and state governments to implement concrete, actionable security strategies beyond rhetoric, especially during the yuletide season.