Scores of people are feared dead following a suspected bomb explosion at a Juma’at Mosque in Gamboru Ward, near the Customs area of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Christmas Eve.
The blast, believed to have been carried out by suspected Boko Haram insurgents using an improvised explosive device (IED), occurred on Wednesday evening while Muslim worshippers were observing the Maghrib prayer.
A security expert, Brant Philip, confirmed the incident in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
Witnesses said atleast five worshippers were killed and over 35 injured.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Borno State, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed the explosion.
The incident has heightened fear and tension among residents, particularly within the Christian community preparing for the 2025 Christmas celebrations.
Security operatives have since cordoned off the affected area to prevent further casualties and enable preliminary investigations into the attack.
