A blast at a crowded mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Wednesday evening has left scores feared dead and many injured, authorities and witnesses said, heightening security concerns in Nigeria’s northeast on Christmas Eve.
The suspected improvised explosive device (IED) detonated at around 6:10 p.m. local time inside the Juma’at Mosque in the bustling Gamboru Ward, near the Customs area of Maiduguri’s city centre, as Muslim worshippers were observing Maghrib prayers less than 12 hours before Christmas.
Preliminary information remains fragmented, but residents who spoke to Channels Television described harrowing scenes of panic and casualties. “Many worshippers were either killed or injured,” one caller said, as emergency services moved into the area.
Borno State Police Public Relations Officer ASP Nahum Daso told journalists that initial investigations confirmed five fatalities and about 35 people injured, though the toll could rise as rescue efforts continue. The injured were taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for urgent treatment.
Security operatives — including explosive ordnance disposal teams — quickly cordoned off the scene to pre-empt further harm, while residents were urged to remain calm and report suspicious activity.
The attack struck a city long associated with Boko Haram’s insurgency, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions since 2009. Although Maiduguri has seen relatively fewer major attacks in recent years, the blast underscores persistent volatility in the region.
No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion. Local eyewitness accounts reflected shock and disbelief as families tried to account for loved ones amid the chaos.
