Explosion at Mosque in Maiduguri Kills Five, Dozens Injured
A deadly explosion tore through a mosque in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria, on Wednesday evening, claiming at least five lives and injuring dozens more, police confirmed. The blast occurred around 6pm (17:00 GMT) as worshippers gathered for evening prayers.
Authorities suspect the attack may have been a suicide bombing. “Preliminary investigations suggest a suicide vest was involved, based on fragments recovered and witness accounts,” said Nahum Daso, spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command. Police are also searching the area around Maiduguri’s Gamboru market for any secondary devices.
Eyewitness accounts vary: mosque leader Malam Abuna Yusuf reported at least eight fatalities, while militia leader Babakura Kolo cited seven. Another witness, Musa Yusha’u, described seeing “many victims being taken away for medical treatment.”
The cause of the blast is still under investigation. Maiduguri has long been affected by armed insurgencies, including Boko Haram and ISIL’s regional offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have operated in the area for nearly two decades.
No group has claimed responsibility, though Boko Haram is often linked to suicide attacks. Since 2009, the conflict in northeast Nigeria has killed over 40,000 people and displaced around two million, according to UN estimates.
While violence has decreased in recent years, insurgents continue to pose a threat across the region, including neighboring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Maiduguri itself has been relatively calm since the last major attack in 2021, making Wednesday’s blast a stark reminder of ongoing security challenges.
