The Nigerian army on Thursday attributed a deadly explosion at a mosque in northeastern Borno state to a Boko Haram suicide bomber, who killed himself and several worshippers during evening prayers the previous day.
The blast ripped through the Al-Adum Jumaat Mosque in Maiduguri’s Gamboru Market area on December 24, as Muslims gathered for the Maghrib prayer, leaving a trail of casualties amid ongoing jihadist violence in the region.
“Preliminary findings indicate the incident was caused by a suspected Boko Haram terrorist (BHT) suicide bomber, who detonated an improvised explosive device, killing himself and two civilians on the scene,” said army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba in a statement.
He added that 32 civilians sustained injuries of varying degrees, with two succumbing to their wounds in hospital, two remaining in critical condition, and the others stable under medical care.
“The troops, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, other sister security agencies, the Borno State Government, and NEMA, responded promptly, securing and cordoning off the affected area to prevent further harm and ensure public safety,” Uba stated.
Casualties were swiftly evacuated to Maiduguri’s General Hospital and Teaching Hospital, according to the military.
Uba, speaking for the headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai — the army’s counter-insurgency command — reassured residents that security forces have ramped up surveillance and measures in Maiduguri and surrounding areas during the festive season.
Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group active in Nigeria’s northeast since 2009, has frequently targeted mosques, markets and civilian gatherings in its campaign to establish a caliphate, resulting in thousands of deaths and mass displacement.
