Bloodshed during prayer: Deadly blast rocks mosque in Nigeria, five dead

Nigeria’s military has blamed the attack on the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

The explosion occurred at a mosque located in the busy Gamboru market area, where worshippers had gathered for evening prayers, according to reports.

Unverified videos circulating on social media showed scenes of devastation following the blast, with injured victims lying amid debris.

The state capital Maiduguri has long been at the centre of a violent insurgency waged by Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the BBC reported.

Confirming the incident, Theatre Command spokesperson Lt Col Sani Uba said preliminary investigations pointed to a suicide bombing.

“Initial findings indicate the incident was caused by a suspected Boko Haram terrorist suicide bomber, who detonated an improvised explosive device, killing himself and two civilians on the spot,” Uba told Punch Online.

He added that 32 people were injured in the attack and investigations were ongoing.

What Is Boko Haram?

Jama'atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda'Awati Wal-Jihad, commonly known as Boko Haram, was founded in 2002 in Maiduguri, Nigeria, by cleric Mohammed Yusuf (now deceased). The group’s name loosely translates to “People Committed to the Prophet’s Teachings for Propagation and Jihad.”

Initially focused on promoting Islamic education and advocating for the establishment of an Islamic state in Nigeria, Boko Haram turned violent in 2009, launching coordinated attacks on police stations and government buildings in Maiduguri. The Nigerian government responded with a military crackdown that resulted in Yusuf’s death.

Following his killing, the group was led by Abubakar Mohammed Shekau, under whose leadership Boko Haram intensified its insurgency, employing suicide bombings, mass kidnappings, and attacks on civilians and security forces.

Although primarily based in north-eastern Nigeria, Boko Haram has also carried out attacks in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, and has maintained links with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) for training and logistical support.

The group has been responsible for several high-profile attacks, including the January 2012 bombings in Kano, which killed more than 180 people in a single day, the August 2011 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, which left at least 21 dead, and the December 2011 Christmas Day attack on Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, killing at least 37 people.