Deadly Blast Rips Through Mosque in Maiduguri, Killing at Least Ten

BORNO, NIGERIA — A devastating explosion tore through a crowded mosque in the northeastern city of Maiduguri on Wednesday evening, claiming the lives of at least ten worshippers and leaving many others injured.

The attack occurred during Maghrib (evening) prayers at a mosque located in the busy Gamboru Market area. Witnesses described a scene of immediate chaos as the blast went off midway through the service, filling the sanctuary with thick smoke and debris while survivors scrambled for safety.

Details of the Attack

While no group has officially claimed responsibility, local militia leader Babakura Kolo described the incident as a suspected bombing. Preliminary assessments suggest an explosive device may have been planted inside the building, though some witnesses at the scene reported seeing what appeared to be a suicide bomber.

Emergency services and security forces cordoned off the market area shortly after the blast to search for secondary devices and transport the wounded to nearby hospitals.

A Region Under Pressure

Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, has been the epicenter of a jihadist insurgency led by Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), since 2009. While the city itself has seen a period of relative calm in recent years due to increased military presence, this latest attack has reignited fears of a resurgence in militant violence.

“The incident is particularly alarming because the city had not experienced a major attack of this scale recently,” noted a local security official.

The insurgency in northeastern Nigeria has claimed an estimated 40,000 lives and displaced nearly two million people over the last decade and a half. Despite sustained military operations by Nigerian forces and regional allies, the threat to civilians remains high, particularly in crowded public spaces and places of worship.

Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant as investigations continue to determine the exact nature of the explosive and the perpetrators behind the strike.