MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, 25 December (H.S.): A powerful explosion tore through a crowded mosque in Maiduguri's Gamboru market during evening prayers on Wednesday, killing at least seven worshippers and injuring several others, according to witnesses, security sources, and anti-jihadist militia leaders, in what marks the city's first major attack since 2021.

Blast During Peak Prayer Hour

The detonation occurred around 6:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT) inside the Al-Adum Jumaat Mosque at Gamboru Main Market, as Muslim faithful gathered for Maghrib prayers, sending thick smoke billowing over the bustling area and triggering widespread panic among traders and residents.

Anti-jihadist militia leader Babakura Kolo reported seven fatalities, while mosque leader Malam Abuna Yusuf cited eight deaths; witness Isa Musa Yusha'u described seeing numerous bloodied victims rushed for medical treatment amid chaos.

Police spokesman Nahum Daso confirmed the incident to AFP, dispatching an explosive ordnance disposal team to secure the site, though no official casualty tally has been released.

No Claim, Suspected Jihadist Hand

No armed group has claimed responsibility for the suspected bombing, which witnesses described variably as either a planted improvised explosive device detonating mid-prayer or a suicide attack—tactics long favored by insurgents targeting mosques and crowded venues in Maiduguri.

An international NGO issued a security alert urging staff to avoid the Gamboru market area, while unverified videos circulating online showed bloodied victims writhing on the ground and bodies shrouded under sheets.

Boko Haram and its Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) splinter—active in Borno state since their 2009 uprising—have killed over 40,000 and displaced two million across Nigeria's northeast, per UN figures, despite waning urban violence.

Resurgent Threat in Borno Heartland

Maiduguri, Borno state's capital and epicenter of the jihadist insurgency, had enjoyed relative calm with no major assaults since 2021, though daily military patrols, evening checkpoints, and rural ambushes persist amid analysts' warnings of a 2025 violence uptick.

The blast underscores insurgents' enduring capacity to strike urban soft targets, spilling over from rural fronts into neighboring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon despite sustained military campaigns.

Security forces have yet to issue a formal statement as rescue efforts continue.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar