Troops Arrest Two Suspects Linked To Borno Mosque Bombing

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested two suspects in connection with the deadly bomb explosion that killed five worshippers and injured 32 others after a suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) inside a mosque at Gamboru market, Maiduguri, Borno State.
Security sources said the suspects were apprehended during follow-up operations conducted by troops in collaboration with other security agencies, based on intelligence gathered after the attack. The arrest is believed to be a significant breakthrough in efforts to dismantle the network behind the incident.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, preliminary investigations indicate that the Christmas Eve attack was coordinated by a coalition of terrorist groups, including Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), Ansaru, and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
Security officials disclosed that the suspects are currently undergoing intensive interrogation to determine their exact roles in the planning, logistics, and execution of the attack, as well as to identify other members of the terror cell. Items of intelligence value were reportedly recovered during the operation, though details were not immediately made public.
The attack, which occurred during evening prayers, sparked panic in the busy Gamboru market area and drew widespread condemnation from residents, religious leaders, and government officials. Many described the bombing as a cowardly assault on innocent civilians and a deliberate attempt to inflame communal tensions during the festive period.
In the aftermath of the explosion, troops reinforced security around markets, places of worship, and other public locations across Maiduguri, while joint patrols were intensified to prevent possible follow-up attacks. Medical authorities confirmed that several of the injured victims are still receiving treatment in hospitals across the state.
The Borno State Government commended the military and security agencies for the swift response and arrests, urging residents to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely information to security forces. Authorities reiterated that efforts to degrade terrorist networks operating in the North-East would be sustained until lasting peace is restored to the region.