An explosive device detonated inside a mosque at Gamboru Main Market in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Wednesday evening, December 24, 2025, killing several worshippers and injuring many others.
The blast occurred at about 6:10 p.m. local time during Maghrib (evening) prayers, when the mosque was filled with worshippers drawn from the busy market area. Eyewitnesses said the explosion triggered panic and chaos, with thick smoke billowing from the building as people fled the scene in fear.
Several worshippers were reportedly killed instantly, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries. Victims were rushed to nearby hospitals by residents and emergency responders as rescue efforts continued late into the evening.
As of the time of filing this report, exact casualty figures remained unconfirmed. However, multiple sources described “several deaths and many injured,” amid ongoing efforts to account for those affected.
Security sources said the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) suspected to have been planted inside the mosque. While some early accounts suggested the possibility of a suicide bombing, preliminary information points more strongly to a planted device.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Authorities are expected to provide further updates as investigations continue.
Gamboru Main Market is one of Maiduguri’s busiest commercial centres, often crowded with traders and worshippers, particularly during evening prayers.
