The Nigerian Army has officially attributed the Christmas Eve mosque bombing in Borno to remnants of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
The army said preliminary investigations into the Borno mosque attack that left several worshippers dead and dozens more injured revealed that the blast was carried out by a Boko Haram suicide bomber.
The attack occurred at the Al-Adum mosque in the Gamboru Market area of Maiduguri.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos when the device detonated midway through the Maghrib prayers.
The Borno mosque attack resulted in at least five confirmed fatalities, while over 35 people were rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital with varying degrees of injuries.
Providing an update on Thursday, the spokesman of the Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, said preliminary investigations revealed that the attack was executed by a suspected Boko Haram terrorist.
“Preliminary findings indicate the incident was caused by a suspected Boko Haram terrorist (BHT) suicide bomber, who detonated an improvised explosive device, killing himself and two civilians on the scene,” Uba said.
He explained that security forces responded swiftly to the incident, working alongside emergency agencies to contain the situation and prevent further casualties.
“The troops, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, other sister security agencies, the Borno State Government, and NEMA, responded promptly, securing and cordoning off the affected area to prevent further harm and ensure public safety,” he added.
According to the army, casualties from the explosion were immediately evacuated to the General Hospital and the Teaching Hospital in Maiduguri for urgent medical attention.
Lt. Col. Uba confirmed that 32 civilians sustained varying degrees of injuries in the attack.
“Two of the injured civilians were later confirmed dead at the hospital, while two others are currently in critical condition, The remaining injured persons are stable and receiving appropriate medical care,” he said.
Earlier reports had indicated that at least five people lost their lives, while dozens were injured as a result of the explosion.
Assuring residents of continued security, the Theatre Command spokesman said troops and other security agencies have intensified surveillance and patrols within Maiduguri and its environs, particularly during the festive period.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and vigilant, while cooperating with security agencies as efforts continue to ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass also reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an immediate and “intensified” scale-up of security operations following the Borno mosque attack.
The directive was made public by Vice President Kashim Shettima in a statement released on Thursday, December 25, 2025.
The Vice President condemned the assault, which occurred at the Al-Adum Jumu’at Mosque in the busy Gamboru Market area, as a “despicable assault on innocent citizens.”
Shettima, in a statement via his X page on Thursday, condemned the explosion that claimed five lives and left several others injured.
The VP said, “President Bola Tinubu has ordered an immediate intensification of security operations in Borno State following the incident.”
“The Federal Government is 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 added.
He emphasised: “The Federal Government will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the peace and security of our nation. Our security agencies are working around the clock to ensure that perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice immediately.
“We sympathise with the Government of Borno, residents, and families who lost their loved ones in this attack. The Federal Government is confident that those responsible for this despicable act of terrorism will face the full weight of the law.
“Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023, this administration has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the security, unity, and stability of our nation.
“This commitment remains steadfast under God and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We will continue to provide our security agencies with all necessary resources and support to decisively defeat terrorism in all its forms.”
