Blast Rocks Maiduguri Mosque, Seven Worshippers Dead

A devastating explosion tore through a mosque in Maiduguri, Nigeria, on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least seven worshippers. The blast occurred inside the crowded Gamboru market mosque as faithful gathered for evening prayers. Witnesses described the scene with one mosque leader reporting eight fatalities, while police confirmed an explosion and dispatched an explosive ordnance disposal team.

The attack, which witnesses suggested could have been a suicide bombing, has raised concerns about security in the region. Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, has largely been peaceful in recent years, with the last major attack recorded in 2021. However, the city remains a hub for military operations against the persistent jihadist insurgency.

Nigeria has been confronting a protracted insurgency by groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP since 2009, which has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced approximately two million people in the northeast. Despite sustained military efforts, insurgent groups retain the capacity to carry out deadly attacks, and there are growing concerns about a resurgence of violence.