Maiduguri mosque bombing: Nigerian police suspect suicide attack
In a new development in the tense security situation in Borno State, Nigerian police announced their strong suspicion that a suicide bomber was responsible for the tragic bombing that targeted a mosque packed with worshippers in Maiduguri, the capital of the northeastern state, on the eve of Christmas celebrations.
In detailing the incident, police spokesperson Nahum Dassu confirmed in a press statement on Thursday that initial investigations and witness testimonies indicate an unidentified individual carrying an explosive device entered the mosque located in the popular Gamboru market. The explosion, which occurred during evening prayers, resulted in the deaths of five people and injuries to 35 others, some of whom were seriously wounded and required urgent medical attention.
Evidence points to a suicide attack
In an official statement released Wednesday evening, Dassault indicated that physical evidence collected from the scene strengthens the hypothesis of a suicide attack. He said, "Based on the shrapnel believed to be remnants of a suicide vest, as well as statements from survivors and eyewitnesses, we believe the incident was a deliberate suicide attack." This attack serves as a reminder of the ongoing security risks facing religious gatherings and markets in the region.
Background of the conflict in Borno State
This incident is particularly significant given Maiduguri's geographical and historical position as the birthplace of the Boko Haram insurgency. Since 2009, the region has been plagued by chronic instability due to repeated attacks by the group, as well as by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which later splintered from it. While the city has experienced relative calm recently and a decline in large-scale direct attacks, the targeting of "soft targets" such as mosques and markets remains a major security challenge for the authorities.
Humanitarian and regional repercussions
The impact of this conflict is not confined to Nigeria's borders, but extends to the entire Lake Chad Basin region. According to United Nations reports, the insurgency, which has raged for over a decade, has resulted in the deaths of at least 40,000 people and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis that has displaced nearly two million people in northeastern Nigeria alone. The violence has spilled over into neighboring countries such as Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, prompting the formation of a multinational force to combat armed groups in the region.
This bombing confirms the difficulty of completely eliminating sleeper cells and the ability of armed groups to launch surprise attacks, despite the intensive military efforts made by the Nigerian government to restore security and stability in Borno State and the surrounding areas.
