Blast at Maiduguri Mosque Kills at Least Ten During Evening Prayers

Borno (Nigeria), Dec 2025 : At least ten people were killed and several others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state, during evening prayers on Wednesday. The deadly incident has reignited fears of renewed militant violence in a region that has endured more than a decade of insurgency and instability.

According to local media reports and eyewitness accounts, the explosion occurred inside a crowded mosque located in the Gamboru Market area, one of Maiduguri’s busiest localities. Worshippers had gathered for evening prayers when the blast suddenly tore through the prayer hall, sending debris flying and plunging the area into chaos.

Witnesses described scenes of panic as people scrambled to escape amid thick smoke, dust, and the cries of the injured. Several worshippers were reportedly thrown to the ground by the force of the blast, while others rushed to help victims trapped under rubble. Emergency responders and local volunteers later arrived at the scene to evacuate the wounded and recover bodies.

Militia leader Babakura Kolo described the incident as a suspected bombing, noting that preliminary assessments indicated the explosive device may have been planted inside the mosque and detonated during the prayer service. However, some witnesses suggested the possibility of a suicide bomber, a tactic previously used by militants in the region. Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact nature of the explosion.

As of now, no armed group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Security agencies have launched an investigation, and additional patrols have been deployed across Maiduguri to prevent further incidents and reassure residents.

Borno state has long been the epicentre of Nigeria’s jihadist insurgency, led primarily by Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Since 2009, these groups have carried out numerous attacks on civilians, security forces, markets, places of worship, and displacement camps, often using suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices.

Although the wider region continues to experience sporadic violence, Maiduguri itself has been relatively calm in recent years compared to the height of the insurgency. This relative stability had offered residents a fragile sense of security, making Wednesday’s attack particularly shocking and unsettling for the local population.

Boko Haram launched its insurgency in Borno state with the aim of establishing an Islamic caliphate and enforcing a hardline interpretation of Islamic law. Despite sustained military operations by Nigerian forces, supported by regional cooperation involving Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, insurgent groups have remained capable of launching deadly attacks.

According to United Nations estimates, the conflict in northeastern Nigeria has claimed at least 40,000 lives and displaced around two million people since it began. Entire communities have been uprooted, livelihoods destroyed, and access to basic services severely disrupted. The humanitarian toll remains immense, with millions still dependent on aid for survival.

While the frequency of large-scale attacks has declined compared to a decade ago, violence has increasingly spilled across borders into neighbouring countries, complicating regional security efforts. The latest blast has raised concerns among analysts and residents alike about a possible resurgence of militant activity in parts of northeastern Nigeria.

Security officials have urged the public to remain vigilant as investigations continue, warning that insurgent groups, though weakened, still retain the capacity to strike civilian targets and spread fear in the region.

Team Maverick.