Mosque Explosion in Maiduguri Kills Seven Worshippers

An explosion tore through a mosque in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Wednesday evening, killing at least seven worshippers during prayers, according to a local militia leader.

Babakura Kolo told AFP that the blast was suspected to be a bombing, though no armed group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

Maiduguri has been at the centre of a more than decade-long insurgency led by Boko Haram and its Islamic State-linked offshoot, ISWAP. While the city has largely been spared major attacks in recent years, militants have previously targeted mosques and other crowded locations using suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices.

Boko Haram launched its violent uprising in Borno State in 2009, seeking to establish an Islamic caliphate in northeastern Nigeria.

The latest incident comes amid a resurgence of violence across the region in 2025, despite ongoing military operations and regional security cooperation. Several attacks on civilians and security forces have been recorded in Borno and neighbouring areas.

In July, at least nine people were killed and four injured during a Boko Haram attack on the Malam Fatori community.

Other raids, particularly in the Gwoza district and areas around Pulka, have increasingly targeted farmers and local residents, leaving dozens dead.

Despite government assurances of strengthened security, the prolonged insurgency continues to fuel displacement, civilian casualties and instability across northeastern Nigeria.