By Abiodun Lawal, Abeokuta
December 25, 2025
The Forum of State Coordinators of Musabaqah (FOSCOM), the body overseeing the National Qur’anic Recitation Competition, has issued a forceful condemnation of the suicide bomb attack at a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri. The attack, which occurred during Maghrib prayers on Wednesday evening, resulted in the tragic loss of five lives and left at least 35 others wounded.
In a statement released on Thursday from Abeokuta and signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kabri, and Secretary, Kamal’deen Akintunde, FOSCOM expressed profound sorrow and extended heartfelt sympathies to the victims’ families and the broader Borno community. The forum framed the violence as a direct assault on a sacred space of peace and congregation, a theme central to its mission.
A Stark Contrast: Celebration of Faith Followed by an Attack on It
The statement highlighted the profound irony and pain of the timing. The bombing came shortly after Borno State successfully hosted the 10-day National Qur’anic Recitation Competition (Musabaqah), an event marking four decades of fostering inter-state unity, spiritual reflection, and peaceful dialogue through scripture.
“This attack is a painful contrast to the peace, spirituality, and unity we all witnessed during the recently concluded Musabaqah,” the forum stated. “We are in deep sorrow over this incident, coming so soon after that celebration of faith and community.”
FOSCOM explicitly refused to let the tragedy overshadow the recent achievements in peacebuilding, crediting the environment that made the large gathering possible to the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum. This point underscores a critical dynamic in conflict zones: the struggle between forces of reconstruction and the persistent threat of destabilization.
Beyond Condemnation: A Call for Contextual and Sustained Action
While offering prayers for the deceased and solace for the bereaved, FOSCOM’s statement moved beyond ritual condemnation to issue a direct appeal to national leadership. The forum called on President Bola Tinubu to “further intensify efforts aimed at tackling insecurity across the country.”
This call for stronger security is not merely generic. Analysts suggest it implies a need for strategies that are both adaptive and sustained. Attacks on soft targets like markets and places of worship indicate a shift in tactics by insurgent groups, requiring intelligence and protection measures that are equally agile. Furthermore, the plea underscores the necessity of security that enables the kind of normalcy and cultural flourishing exemplified by the Musabaqah, which itself is a form of counter-extremism.
“The Nigerian Ummah stands firmly with our brothers and sisters in Borno,” FOSCOM affirmed. “The bond strengthened during the Musabaqah remains unshakable in this hour of grief.” This declaration reinforces the idea that social cohesion and national solidarity are themselves vital components of long-term security, acting as a bulwark against the divisive aims of such attacks.
The Gamboru Market bombing is a grim reminder of the enduring challenges facing regions like the Northeast. FOSCOM’s response, blending grief, resilience, and a pointed political appeal, frames the incident not as an isolated event, but as a test of the nation’s commitment to protecting the spaces where faith, commerce, and community intersect. The path forward, as implied by the forum, requires security that is robust enough to deter violence and nuanced enough to safeguard the fragile processes of peace and normal life.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
