The Nigerian Army has confirmed that four people were killed and 32 others injured following a bomb explosion at a mosque inside Gamboru Market in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The incident happened on Tuesday evening during Maghrib prayers.
The confirmation was made by the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), through its Media Information Officer, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Uba said the explosion occurred at about 6:00 p.m. while worshippers were observing prayers at the mosque.
According to him, initial investigations showed that the blast was caused by a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber who detonated an improvised explosive device.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the explosion was caused by a suspected Boko Haram terrorist suicide bomber who detonated an IED, killing himself and two civilians at the scene,” Uba said.
He explained that troops of Operation Hadin Kai, working alongside the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, other security agencies, the Borno State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), responded immediately to the attack.
“The affected area was quickly secured and cordoned off to prevent further harm, while casualties were evacuated to the General Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for treatment,” he added.
Uba said that although 32 civilians sustained injuries, two of them later died at the hospital, bringing the total number of civilian deaths to four.
He noted that two of the injured victims were in critical condition, while the remaining patients were stable and responding to medical care.
Following the attack, the OPHK spokesman said security had been tightened across Maiduguri and surrounding areas to prevent further incidents, especially during the festive season.
He urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, advising them to avoid crowded places and report any suspicious movement or activity to security agencies.
Uba also expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and reassured residents of the military’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the North-East.
