The Nigerian Army has provided fresh details on the deadly mosque bombing in Maiduguri, Borno State, confirming that the explosion was carried out by a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber during the Maghrib prayer on 24 December 2025. The attack took place inside the Gamboru Juma’at Mosque in the city’s busy Gamboru Market area, an environment that had been relatively calmer compared to earlier years of insurgent violence.
According to a statement by Lt. Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for Operation Hadin Kai, preliminary investigations indicate the bomber detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) inside the mosque as worshippers gathered, killing himself and two civilians outright. A total of 32 civilians sustained varying degrees of injuries; two critically wounded individuals later died in hospital, while others remain under medical care.
The Army said it responded swiftly alongside other agencies, including the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, the Borno State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), securing and cordoning off the blast site to prevent further harm. Victims were evacuated to the General Hospital and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for urgent treatment.
In the wake of the attack, troops and security agencies have intensified surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations in Maiduguri and surrounding areas to forestall additional incidents during the yuletide period. The Army has urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid crowded places and report any suspicious activities to nearby security posts, stressing that the security apparatus will sustain its efforts to protect lives and property across the region.
The confirmation places responsibility for the blast firmly on Boko Haram elements, underscoring the persistent threat the group poses despite sustained counter-insurgency operations and security gains in parts of the northeast.
