Christmas Eve Blast at Maiduguri Mosque Claims Five Lives, Dozens Injured

A A suspected improvised explosive device detonated at a crowded mosque in Maiduguri on Christmas Eve, killing at least five people and leaving 35 others injured in a tragic holiday attack.

The explosion struck the Al-Adum Juma’at Mosque in the popular Gamboru Market at approximately 6 p.m., just as worshippers were observing the evening Maghrib prayers. The blast caused immediate panic and chaos, turning a place of worship into a scene of devastation.

Police authorities have confirmed the incident is being treated as a bombing. While investigations are still in their early stages, the attack bears the hallmarks of insurgent groups like Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have a long and brutal history of targeting civilian gatherings in Nigeria's northeast.

The timing of the attack on a significant Christian holiday has sparked widespread condemnation and a heated debate online. Some citizens have accused media outlets of selectively covering regional violence, while others have issued calls for unity, stressing that terrorism affects both Muslims and Christians and that compassion should be extended to all victims, regardless of their faith.

As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. Security agencies are on the scene and have cordoned off the area but have yet to issue a detailed statement pending further investigation.