BLOODIED SANCTUARY: FIVE DEAD, 35 INJURED AS SUICIDE BOMBER STRIKES MAIDUGURI MOSQUE

Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, was thrown into mourning on Tuesday evening as a deadly explosion ripped through a crowded mosque, killing at least five worshippers and leaving 35 others injured in what security agencies have described as a suspected suicide bombing.
The blast occurred at about 6:00pm during prayers at Al-Adum Juma’at Mosque, located within the bustling Gamboru Market area of Maiduguri, a commercial hub usually teeming with traders and worshippers.
Confirming the tragic incident in a statement on Wednesday, the Borno State Police Command disclosed that it received a distress report of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion at the mosque on December 24, 2025. The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.
According to the police, the scene was immediately cordoned off to prevent further danger and allow emergency responders carry out rescue operations. A coordinated response was swiftly activated under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, psc.
“The Borno State Police Command, under the directive of the Commissioner of Police, immediately activated a Rescue/Joint Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and other relevant security and emergency response agencies,” the statement read.
The command confirmed that five persons lost their lives in the attack, while 35 others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The injured victims were promptly evacuated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri, where they are currently receiving medical attention.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, strongly suggest that the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber. Security operatives reportedly recovered fragments believed to be from a suicide vest, while eyewitness accounts further reinforced the suspicion of a coordinated suicide attack.
“Investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause and circumstances surrounding the incident,” the police said, adding that the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit has commenced extensive sweeping operations within and around the area to rule out the presence of secondary explosive devices.
While assuring residents of enhanced security, the command stated that normalcy has since been restored in the area. Members of the public were, however, urged to remain vigilant, avoid the immediate vicinity of the attack, and cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and useful information.
The police reiterated their commitment to safeguarding lives and property in the state, assuring that further updates would be made available as investigations continue.
The latest attack has once again revived painful memories of insurgent violence in Borno State, casting a dark shadow over the festive season and underscoring lingering security challenges in the North-East.