Vice President Kashim Shettima has pledged intensified federal security measures and unwavering support for victims following a suicide bombing at a crowded mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, that killed at least five people and injured 35 others.
The attack occurred on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, around 6 p.m. local time during Maghrib evening prayers at the Al-Adum Jumaat Mosque in the bustling Gamboru Market area. Police and military officials described it as a suspected suicide bombing by a Boko Haram operative, who detonated an improvised explosive device (IED), killing himself along with two civilians at the scene. Fragments of a suspected suicide vest were recovered, supporting the preliminary findings.
Borno State Police spokesperson Nahum Daso confirmed the casualty figures, stating that five people died and 35 sustained varying injuries. Victims were rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and the State Specialist Hospital.
The Nigerian Army's Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, attributed the blast to Boko Haram. Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the force's media information officer, said in a statement that troops, police, and emergency agencies responded swiftly, evacuating casualties and securing the site. He noted that 32 civilians were injured, with two later dying in hospital and two remaining in critical condition.
No group has officially claimed responsibility, but the attack aligns with Boko Haram's history of targeting mosques, markets, and civilians in Nigeria's northeast, where the insurgency has killed tens of thousands since 2009. Maiduguri, long the epicentre of violence, had enjoyed relative calm in recent years, with no major incident since 2021.
Vice President Shettima strongly condemned the incident. In an initial statement, he described it as a "despicable assault on innocent citizens and the peace of the nation". He revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had ordered the "immediate intensification of security operations" in Borno State, including the deployment of additional tactical teams to track and apprehend the perpetrators.
"Our security agencies are working round the clock to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice immediately," Shettima said. "The Federal Government will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the peace and security of our nation."
On Friday, December 26, Shettima visited survivors at the Muhammadu Buhari Trauma Centre at UMTH, accompanied by Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum. He conveyed President Tinubu's sympathies and assured continued government assistance.
Visibly moved, Shettima called the violence "senseless" and expressed confidence in ending the threat through sustained collaboration. "We are here on behalf of the President to sympathise with the victims and to reassure the good people of Borno State and indeed the entire nation that the government remains unwavering in its commitment to secure the lives and property of our citizens," he told journalists. "By the grace of God, this madness will soon be brought to an end."
He praised Governor Zulum's efforts, adding, "The Governor of Borno has been working round the clock to complement the efforts of the Federal Government. I sincerely appreciate his commitment. Most importantly, we are united in victory as well as in challenges. We are one nation, tied to a common destiny."
Hospital officials reported that 14 patients were initially admitted, with one death shortly after arrival, seven still under treatment (including one in critical condition), and several discharged.
The incident has heightened concerns ahead of the festive season, prompting calls for vigilance at public gatherings. Security forces have intensified surveillance in Maiduguri and surrounding areas.
