Suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Wednesday evening detonated an improvised explosive device at a Juma’at Mosque in Gamboru Ward, near the Customs area in central Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
The explosion occurred at about 6:10 pm, less than 12 hours to Christmas, while Muslim faithful were observing the Maghrib prayer. Initial details surrounding the incident were unclear, but residents who spoke to newsmen said several worshippers were either killed or sustained injuries.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Borno State, ASP Nahum Daso, said preliminary findings showed that five people had been confirmed dead, while about 35 others were injured in the blast.
The attack has triggered widespread fear across Maiduguri, particularly among members of the Christian community preparing for the 2025 Christmas celebration. Following the explosion, security operatives cordoned off the area to prevent further harm and to allow for an initial assessment of the scene.
Nigeria has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency since 2009, a conflict that has claimed at least 40,000 lives and displaced around two million people in the northeast, according to the United Nations. Although the intensity of violence has reduced compared to its peak a decade ago, the insurgency has expanded into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
In recent months, analysts have raised concerns about a renewed wave of violence in parts of the northeast, noting that insurgent groups still possess the capacity to carry out deadly attacks despite years of sustained military operations.
Maiduguri, once notorious for frequent bombings and nightly gun battles, has enjoyed relative calm in recent years, with the last major attack recorded in 2021. Nonetheless, the signs of conflict remain visible in the city, which hosts the headquarters of major military operations.
Military vehicles patrol the streets daily, checkpoints remain in place during the evenings, and markets that once shut early now stay busy into the night. Beyond the city, however, the insurgency continues in rural areas, where experts warn of an uptick in jihadist activity this year.
What you should know
The explosion at a Juma’at Mosque in Maiduguri underscores growing concerns about a resurgence of insurgent violence in Borno State.
Coming just hours before Christmas, the attack has heightened fear among residents and raised fresh security concerns during the festive season.
While Maiduguri has largely remained calm in recent years, the incident highlights the continued threat posed by Boko Haram and other jihadist groups, particularly in the wider northeast where attacks persist despite ongoing military efforts.
