An explosion tore through a mosque in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria, killing at least seven worshippers during evening prayers Wednesday. Witnesses described chaos as worshippers fled the crowded mosque in Gamboru market, while officials confirmed the suspected bombing, though no group claimed responsibility.
Anti-violence militia leader Babakura Kolo said the bomb appeared to have been placed inside the mosque, with some witnesses suggesting a possible suicide attack. Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, has long faced attacks by armed groups, though major assaults had waned in recent years.
One mosque leader, Malam Abuna Yusuf, reported eight fatalities, while authorities have yet to release an official casualty count, amid scenes of bloodied victims. Videos circulated on social media showed bodies covered with sheets and survivors writhing in pain, rushed toward medical treatment by bystanders.
Nigeria’s ongoing conflict in the northeast has claimed at least 40,000 lives since 2009 and displaced roughly two million, according to United Nations data. Although violence has eased compared with its peak, attacks have spilled into neighbouring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, with experts warning of possible resurgence.
Maiduguri, once marked by nightly gun battles and bombings, has remained relatively calm since 2021, though military operations and checkpoints persist throughout the city. Armoured pick-ups filled with soldiers patrol streets daily, their presence a constant reminder of the ongoing threat in Borno and the surrounding countryside.