By Hamza Suleiman
Maiduguri, Dec. 24, 2025
The Borno State Police Command has confirmed a devastating attack on a place of worship, with five persons killed and 35 others injured following a bomb blast at a mosque in the Gamborun area of Maiduguri on Wednesday evening.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident was an improvised explosive device (IED) attack, suspected to have been carried out by a suicide bomber. The attack targeted worshippers during congregational prayers, a time when the mosque would have been at its most crowded.
DSP Nahum Daso, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Borno Command, provided the grim details in an interview with NAN. He stated that the suspected bomber detonated the device at approximately 6:15 p.m., a time coinciding with evening prayers (Maghrib).
“Five persons died on the spot, while 35 others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” Daso confirmed. The injured were immediately evacuated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for urgent medical attention.
Context and Security Response: This attack is a stark reminder of the persistent, though diminished, threat of insurgent violence in Nigeria’s northeast, a region that has endured over a decade of conflict. Targeting a mosque represents a severe escalation in tactics, aiming to strike at the heart of community and faith.
In response, DSP Daso outlined the immediate security measures taken. Operatives from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, alongside personnel from other security agencies, were swiftly deployed to the scene. Their critical tasks were to secure the area, conduct forensic checks, and ensure no secondary devices were planted—a common tactic to target first responders and crowds gathering after an initial blast.
The area remains cordoned off as a full-scale investigation commences to determine the precise origins of the materials used and to identify any networks behind the attack.
Appeal to the Public: The police spokesman urged residents to remain calm but hyper-vigilant. He emphasized the importance of community cooperation in security, asking the public to promptly report any suspicious persons, movements, or objects to the nearest security formation. This “see something, say something” protocol is a cornerstone of counter-terrorism efforts in urban areas.
The Gamborun area attack underscores the fragile security situation in Borno State. While large-scale territorial gains have been made against insurgent groups, asymmetric attacks using IEDs and suicide bombers remain a deadly and complex challenge for security forces and a continuing tragedy for civilians.
Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed
Source: NAN
