Fear gripped Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Wednesday evening after a bomb explosion hit a Juma’at Mosque in Gamboru Ward, near the Customs area, during Muslim prayers.
According to a Channels News report, the explosion occurred at approximately 6:10 p.m. while worshippers were observing the Maghrib prayer on Christmas Eve.
Residents confirmed that several people were killed, while many others sustained injuries, though official casualty figures were yet to be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
An eyewitness said the attacker sneaked into the mosque and detonated the explosive during the prayer.
“The bomber detonated when the first raka’at of the Maghrib prayer was observed. Many worshippers died, others sustained various injuries,” the eyewitness said.
The blast immediately caused panic across the area, with residents fleeing for safety. The incident also heightened fear among Christians in the city preparing for Christmas celebrations.
Security operatives quickly cordoned off the area to prevent further casualties, while emergency responders began rescue and evacuation operations. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment.
The Borno State Police Command is yet to give an official statement concerning the explosion.
The attack adds to the long history of insurgency-related violence in Borno State. In June 2025, at least 10 people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive at a food joint in Konduga Local Government Area.
