Five Killed, Dozens Injured in Mosque Explosion During Evening Prayers in Maiduguri

At least five people were killed and 35 others injured when an explosion hit a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, during evening prayers on Wednesday. Police say preliminary investigations suggest the blast may have been a suicide bombing, based on recovered fragments of a suspected suicide vest and witness accounts, although investigations are still ongoing. Local sources reported the death toll could be higher, with no group claiming responsibility so far. The attack occurred in a region long affected by jihadist insurgency, where Boko Haram and ISWAP have carried out years of deadly violence.

At least five people have been confirmed dead after a powerful explosion tore through a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State, during evening prayers on Wednesday, according to reports by international news agencies.
The Associated Press (AP) quoted a statement from the police confirming that, in addition to the fatalities, no fewer than 35 people sustained varying degrees of injuries as a result of the blast. Many of the injured were worshippers who had gathered inside the mosque for prayers when the explosion occurred, causing panic and chaos at the scene.
Borno State Police spokesperson, Nahum Daso, told AP that early findings from the incident point to a possible suicide bombing. According to him, preliminary investigations suggest that the explosion may have been carried out by an individual wearing an explosive device, although authorities have not yet reached a final conclusion.
Daso explained that the initial assessment was based on evidence recovered from the scene, including fragments believed to be parts of a suicide vest, as well as eyewitness accounts from people who were present at the mosque at the time of the explosion. These findings, he said, raised strong suspicions that the attack was deliberate and carefully planned.
He emphasized, however, that investigations were still ongoing and that security agencies had not ruled out other possibilities. Police officers and explosive ordnance experts were deployed to thoroughly search the surrounding area to ensure there were no additional explosive devices that could pose further danger to residents.
Earlier, the French news agency AFP cited local sources who reported that the death toll could be higher, putting the number of worshippers killed in the blast at at least seven. The discrepancy in figures reflects the confusion that often follows such incidents, as authorities continue to verify casualties and gather accurate information.
As of the time of reporting, no group had come forward to claim responsibility for the attack. Nonetheless, mosques and other public places have previously been targeted in similar attacks by Islamist militant groups operating in the region.
AFP also quoted a leader of an anti-Islamist militia who suggested that the explosive device may have been planted inside the mosque ahead of time. According to this account, the bomb reportedly detonated midway through the prayers, when the mosque was filled with worshippers.
Maiduguri is the capital city of Borno State, a region that has been at the center of a prolonged jihadist insurgency for nearly two decades. Armed groups such as Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have carried out numerous attacks across the state and the wider northeastern region of Nigeria.
The insurgency has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and has forced millions to flee their homes, creating one of Africa’s most severe humanitarian crises. Entire communities have been displaced, with many residents living in camps for internally displaced persons or seeking refuge in neighboring regions.
Although Maiduguri had not experienced a major attack since 2021, the impact of the long-running conflict remains evident throughout the city. Security checkpoints are common, and military patrols are frequently seen as authorities continue efforts to prevent further attacks and maintain a measure of stability in the area.