A powerful explosion rocked a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno State, on Wednesday evening. The blast occurred as worshippers were offering evening prayers. A Reuters witness confirmed the incident.
Seven worshippers have been reported killed in the blast. Reports indicate the explosion occurred around 6 p.m. at the mosque located in the Gamboru Market area. The local administration and security agencies have not yet released a statement on the number of casualties. The city of Maiduguri,
long affected by terrorist violence,
has long been a hotbed of violence by the terrorist organization Boko Haram and its affiliate, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). These organizations have wreaked havoc in northeastern Nigeria over the past 20 years. Thousands of people have lost their lives and millions have been forced to flee their homes in this conflict.
Mosques and crowded areas have been targeted in the past as well.
Although no organization has yet claimed responsibility for this latest attack, Boko Haram and ISWAP have previously targeted mosques, markets, and other crowded areas in Maiduguri through suicide attacks and IEDs (improvised explosive devices).
Boko Haram began its insurgency in Borno State in 2009. The organization’s stated aim is to establish an Islamic caliphate in the region. Despite continued military operations by the government and regional forces, sporadic attacks by these terrorist groups continue to pose a significant threat to civilians.
Security forces have cordoned off the area and an investigation is underway. An official statement and further details are awaited from the authorities.