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Maiduguri, Nigeria – A suspected suicide bombing at a mosque in Maiduguri on Wednesday evening tragically claimed the lives of five individuals and left 35 others injured during prayers.
Authorities in Borno state are investigating the incident, with police spokesperson Nahum Daso confirming that fragments of a suspected suicide vest were discovered at the scene. Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum swiftly condemned the “barbaric and inhumane” attack, urging increased vigilance in places of worship and public areas as the festive season approaches.
This latest act of violence adds to a troubling pattern in Nigeria’s northern region, where the nation grapples with various armed groups, including Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province. Since 2009, thousands have been killed and millions displaced, according to United Nations figures.
While no group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing, the use of suicide bombers has historically been a tactic employed by Boko Haram, an Islamic militant group responsible for numerous attacks across the northeastern region. Although analysts suggest the group’s reliance on suicide bombings has decreased in recent years, their capacity to launch such attacks remains. A triple suicide attack at a wedding ceremony in Borno in July 2024 previously highlighted the potential for a resurgence of this method by the group.