Borno Mosque Blast: I Watched Worshippers Fall – Imam

The Chief Imam of Gamboru Juma’at Mosque, Maiduguri, Borno State, Ustaz Al-Ali Muhammad, has recounted the terrifying moments a suicide bomber struck during prayers on Wednesday, leaving five worshippers dead and 35 others injured.

Speaking to Daily Trust on Thursday, the imam said the atmosphere in the mosque was calm, with no indication of danger, especially as the area had enjoyed relative peace for a long time.

He said, “I was leading the prayer when the explosion occurred. At first, I thought our solar battery had exploded. But when I looked around, I saw the blood of the suicide bomber splashed on the wall. That was when people began to fall and scream.”

The imam said the incident sent shockwaves through the mosque and its surroundings as worshippers struggled to escape in confusion and fear.

While adding that the mosque would only reopen after receiving clearance from security agencies, he said, “When we reopen, we will return to our former security arrangements. Our youths will search worshippers before they are allowed into the mosque.”

A day after the attack, fear remained palpable in Maiduguri, with residents reporting heightened anxiety around mosques and other places of worship.

Security operatives cordoned off the area and increased patrols around crowded locations, a development that slowed business activities, especially with the Christmas season.

The Borno State Police Command said there had been no increase in the death toll. Police spokesperson, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, said investigations were ongoing to uncover those behind the attack.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that 40 people sustained injuries in the blast.

The Head of Operations for Borno and Yobe states, Mr Surajo Garba, said 25 victims were admitted at the State Specialist Hospital, while 15 were receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).

“Two of the victims initially brought to UMTH are in critical condition, while the remaining have been moved to the wards and are responding to treatment,” he said.

Survivors of the blast described the incident as devastating. One of them, Baan Kawuri, said, “I only remember a deafening sound. I found myself on the ground and couldn’t hear anything. I was confused until I realised I was in the hospital.”

Another survivor, Mustafa Bunu, who sustained a leg injury, urged the government and security agencies to heighten vigilance across the city.

He said, “We don’t know how many suicide bombers may have entered the town. Security should be strengthened in mosques, churches and all worship centres.

“I was with two boys who worked for me minutes before the incident. I rushed back to see if they could be rescued, but they were already lifeless. They died instantly.”

Meanwhile, Christian residents said security was tightened during church services following the attack. One of them, Miyani Joseph, said worshippers were thoroughly searched and strangers questioned.

He said, “There was panic everywhere, but people understood the need for strict security measures.”

Boko Haram behind bomb blast – Army

The headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai, Nigerian Army, has confirmed that Boko Haram was behind the bomb blast at the Gamboru Juma’at Mosque.

In a statement on Thursday, the Theatre Command’s spokesperson, Lt Col Sani Uba, said investigation revealed that the attack was carried out by Boko Haram elements.

Uba said the casualties were immediately evacuated to the general hospital and the teaching hospital in Maiduguri.

Uba assured residents of their safety during the festive season, saying troops and other security agencies had intensified surveillance and security measures within Maiduguri and surrounding areas.

He said, “Preliminary findings indicate the incident was caused by a suspected Boko Haram terrorist (BHT) – suicide bomber who detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), killing himself and two civilians on the scene.”

Tinubu orders security agencies to intensify surveillance

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that the federal government is deploying additional tactical teams to the area attacked by terrorists in Maiduguri, Borno State, to track down and apprehend those responsible.

Shettima, who stated this in a statement on Thursday, condemned the bomb explosion that claimed five lives and left several others injured at a Mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, on Wednesday.

The vice president described the attack as “a despicable assault on innocent citizens and the peace of the nation.”

He said President Bola Tinubu had ordered an immediate intensification of security operations in Borno following the incident.

He added that the federal government was working closely with state authorities and local security agencies to ensure protection of vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure across the North East and other regions.

Shettima expressed confidence that the security architecture currently in place would not only apprehend the perpetrators, but also unravel the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Northern govs commiserate with victims

The Northern State Governors Forum (NSGF) condemned the suicide attack at the Gamboru Market Mosque, describing it as a barbaric, dastardly and cowardly aimed at instilling fear and undermining peace.

In a statement issued on behalf of his colleagues, the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, expressed sorrow over the incident and extended his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Borno State, particularly Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, as well as to the families of the killed and those injured in the attack.

He described the targeting of a place of worship as a grave violation of human conscience and religious sanctity, stressing that such acts only reinforced the resolve of the region to stand united against terrorism and violent extremism.(Daily trust)