The Nigerian Army has confirmed that four people lost their lives while 32 others were injured following a bomb explosion at a mosque located inside Gamboru Market in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening during the Maghrib prayers, throwing the usually busy market area into panic.
The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba.
Uba said the explosion occurred at about 6.00pm while worshippers were observing prayers at the mosque, adding that preliminary investigations pointed to a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber who detonated an improvised explosive device.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the explosion was caused by a suspected Boko Haram terrorist suicide bomber who detonated an IED, killing himself and two civilians at the scene,” Uba said.
He explained that troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, other security agencies, the Borno State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency, responded swiftly to the incident.
“The affected area was quickly secured and cordoned off to prevent further harm, while casualties were evacuated to the General Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for treatment,” he added.
Uba said that although 32 civilians sustained injuries in the blast, two of them later died in hospital, bringing the total number of civilian deaths to four.
He noted that two of the injured victims were in critical condition, while the remaining patients were stable and responding to treatment.
He added that security had been tightened across Maiduguri and its environs to forestall further attacks, especially during the festive period.
The OPHK spokesman urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, advising them to avoid crowded places and promptly report any suspicious movement or activity to security agencies.
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Uba also commiserated with the families of the victims and reassured residents of the military’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the North-East.
