The Nigerian Army has confirmed that Wednesday evening’s explosion at a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, Borno State, was carried out by a suicide bomber suspected to be affiliated with Boko Haram.
The disclosure was made on Thursday by the Headquarters of Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, following preliminary investigations into the incident that rattled the bustling commercial district during evening prayers.
According to the military, the assailant detonated an improvised explosive device within the mosque premises, killing himself and two civilians on the spot. A further 32 worshippers sustained varying degrees of injuries in the blast.
The Army’s Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, said troops swiftly mobilised to the scene in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, other security agencies, the Borno State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency.
He said the affected area was immediately secured and cordoned off to avert secondary attacks, while victims were evacuated to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.
Lt. Col. Uba added that two of the injured later died while receiving treatment, bringing the death toll to four, while two others remain in critical condition. He noted that the remaining victims are stable and responding to care.
Reassuring residents amid heightened anxiety during the festive season, the Army said security has been reinforced across Maiduguri and its environs, with surveillance and protective measures intensified to deter further attacks.
The military urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements, stressing that collective cooperation remains critical to sustaining gains against insurgency in the North-East.
