Islamic terror
Boko Haram Bombs Nigerian Mosque, Five Dead
The blast occurred during evening prayers near the Gamboru market area, as congregants gathered inside the mosque. Emergency services rushed the wounded to the hospital, where several victims were reported to be in serious condition.
At least five worshippers were killed and 35 others injured when a suspected suicide bomber detonated an explosive device inside a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno State, police said on Wednesday.
The blast occurred during evening prayers near the Gamboru market area, as congregants gathered inside the mosque. Emergency services rushed the wounded to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the state specialist hospital, where several victims were reported to be in serious condition.
Witnesses described chaos following the explosion, with debris, dust, and panicked worshippers fleeing the scene. “It was during prayers that the bomb exploded,” said local market leader Masta Dalori. “Nobody can say exactly how it happened.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Nigeria’s northeast has been the epicenter of a prolonged Islamist insurgency, with Boko Haram and its Islamic State-affiliated splinter group frequently carrying out bombings and shootings targeting civilians, mosques, and markets.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum strongly condemned the attack, calling it “utterly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane,” and urged residents to remain alert during the festive season. He said attacking a place of worship was a desecration of its sanctity and offered condolences to the families of those killed.
Police confirmed the casualty figures and said explosive ordnance disposal teams had secured the area and were conducting follow-up sweeps. Authorities said an investigation is underway and advised residents to report suspicious activity.
Despite years of military operations against insurgent groups, sporadic attacks continue across northeast Nigeria.