Suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Wednesday evening detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) at a Juma’at Mosque in Gamboru Ward, near the Customs area in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The explosion occurred at about 6:10 p.m., less than 12 hours before Christmas, while Muslim worshippers were observing the Maghrib prayer.
Although details surrounding the incident remain sketchy, residents told Channels Television that several worshippers were caught in the blast, with many feared dead or injured.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Borno State, ASP Nahum Daso, said preliminary investigations showed that five persons were killed, while about 35 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The blast has heightened fear and tension across Maiduguri, particularly among residents and members of the Christian community preparing for the 2025 Christmas celebrations.
Security operatives have since cordoned off the affected area to prevent further casualties and to allow emergency responders and investigators to assess the situation.
Deadly Insurgency
Nigeria has battled a jihadist insurgency in the northeast since 2009, a conflict that has claimed at least 40,000 lives and displaced around two million people, according to United Nations estimates.
While the intensity of violence has reduced from its peak over a decade ago, the conflict has spilled into neighbouring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, raising regional security concerns.
There are growing fears of a resurgence of insurgent attacks in parts of the northeast, as armed groups remain capable of carrying out deadly operations despite years of sustained military efforts.
Maiduguri, once plagued by frequent bombings and gun battles, had enjoyed relative calm in recent years, with the last major attack recorded in 2021.
However, reminders of the conflict persist. Military patrols remain visible across the city, evening checkpoints are still enforced, and security remains tight even as commercial activities extend into the night.
Meanwhile, violence continues in rural communities, with security analysts warning of an uptick in jihadist activity across parts of the region this year.
