Boko Haram Responsible for Maiduguri Mosque Bombing – Nigerian Army
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that Boko Haram insurgents were responsible for the suicide bombing at a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, Borno State, which left five worshippers dead and dozens injured.
The attack occurred around 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24, 2025, during Maghrib prayers, when a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device inside the mosque.
In a statement issued on Thursday, December 25, the Media Information Officer of the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, said preliminary investigations revealed that the bomber killed himself and two civilians at the scene.
According to the statement, troops of Operation Hadin Kai, working alongside the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, other security agencies, the Borno State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), responded swiftly to the incident. The affected area was secured and cordoned off to prevent further casualties.
Victims were immediately evacuated to the General Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for treatment. While a total of 32 civilians sustained varying degrees of injuries, two of them later died in hospital. Two others remain in critical condition, while the remaining victims are said to be stable and receiving medical care.
The army said security has been heightened across Maiduguri and surrounding areas, with increased surveillance to forestall further attacks, particularly during the yuletide season.
Members of the public were urged to remain calm but vigilant, avoid crowded places, and exercise extra caution at religious centres. The military also advised residents to be alert to suspicious individuals, especially teenagers exhibiting unusual behaviour, and to promptly report any suspicious activity to the nearest security post.
Operation Hadin Kai commiserated with the families of the deceased and reassured residents of its continued commitment to protecting lives and property in the North-East.
