At least five worshippers were killed and 35 others injured when a suspected suicide bomber detonated an explosive inside the Al-Adum mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno State, during evening prayers. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as victims were rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the State Specialist Hospital.
Responsibility and Context:
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes amid ongoing security concerns in Nigeria’s northeast, where Islamist insurgents Boko Haram and its ISWAP faction have waged a 15-year campaign targeting civilians, mosques, and markets.
Eyewitness Account:
Masta Dalori, a market leader, said, “Nobody knows what happened. It was during prayers that the bomb exploded. Allah has destined that this will happen but nobody can give details of how it happened.”
Official Response:
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the attack as “utterly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane,” urging heightened vigilance in places of worship and public spaces during the festive season and offering condolences to families of the dead.
Police Action:
Police confirmed the casualty figures and said bomb disposal teams had cordoned off the area, with ongoing sweeping operations in progress, while investigations continue and residents are advised to remain calm.
Background:
Last August, gunmen attacked a mosque and nearby homes in northwest Katsina State, killing at least 50 people.
With information from Reuters.
