Military Authority Blames Boko Haram Suicide Bomber for Maiduguri Mosque Blast

Military Authority Blames Boko Haram Suicide Bomber for Maiduguri Mosque Blast

Bold Summary: Security authorities in Maiduguri, Borno State, say a suspected Boko Haram-linked suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a mosque during evening prayers on 24 December 2025, killing between five and seven people and wounding dozens; investigations are ongoing and residents are urged to remain vigilant.

Incident Overview

On the evening of 24 December 2025, an explosion tore through a mosque in the Gamboru/Gambarou area of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, during Maghrib (evening) prayers. Eyewitnesses reported the blast occurred as worshippers were gathered for the first raka’at, producing immediate casualties and panic in a part of the city that has seen intermittent violence over the years. Local reporting and security sources describe the event as a sudden detonation inside the prayer hall rather than an external strike.

Casualties and Physical Evidence

Initial casualty figures vary by outlet: some reports place the death toll at five with about 35 injured, while other accounts cite at least seven fatalities and multiple wounded; the situation remained fluid as hospitals received victims and authorities tallied the injured. Security teams at the scene reportedly recovered fragments consistent with a suicide vest, a detail that shaped early assessments that the blast was caused by an individual-borne explosive device rather than a planted device.

Official Attribution and Military Position

Military and police authorities quickly described the explosion as a suspected suicide attack and identified Boko Haram or its splinter factions as the most likely perpetrators, citing the modus operandi and the recovered vest fragments as supporting evidence. No immediate claim of responsibility was made by any group in the hours after the blast; authorities emphasized that forensic and intelligence work would determine responsibility and whether the attacker acted alone or as part of a cell.

Security Context and Response

Maiduguri remains a focal point in Nigeria’s long-running fight against Islamist insurgents, and mosques have been targeted in past attacks, which informs the heightened concern among security services and civilians alike. Following the blast, security forces increased patrols in the Gamboru market area and around places of worship, and investigators began collecting evidence and interviewing survivors and witnesses to reconstruct the sequence of events.

Implications and Guidance

The attack underscores the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups in northeastern Nigeria and the continued use of suicide tactics. For residents and visitors, authorities recommend heightened vigilance around crowded public spaces and places of worship, prompt reporting of suspicious persons or items to security services, and following official advisories as investigations proceed. The incident may prompt renewed military and intelligence operations in the region as authorities seek to disrupt networks that enable such attacks.