In a significant security development, Nigerian police announced their strong suspicion that a suicide bomber carried out the deadly attack on a mosque packed with worshippers in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in the northeast of the country, on Christmas Eve. This incident brings back memories of the deadly attacks that plagued the region for many years.
Details of the incident and initial investigations
Police spokesman Nahum Dassou explained in a press statement on Thursday that initial investigations and evidence gathered from the blast site clearly point to the possibility of a suicide attack. Dassou said, "The incident may have been a suicide bombing, based on the discovery of fragments of what is likely an explosive vest, as well as eyewitness accounts from the scene.".
According to security and medical sources, the explosion killed at least five people and injured 35 others, some critically, who were taken to hospitals for treatment. The attack occurred while worshippers were performing evening prayers at a mosque located within the busy Gamboru market, which explains the high number of casualties.
Background of the conflict in Borno State
This incident is particularly significant given its location; Maiduguri is considered the historical stronghold and birthplace of the Boko Haram extremist group. Although the city has seen a marked improvement in security in recent years, with a decrease in major attacks compared to the state's remote villages, this security breach raises concerns about a resurgence of attacks targeting major urban centers.
The region has been plagued by a bloody armed insurgency since 2009, led by Boko Haram and later by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which broke away and became the most powerful faction in the region. The two groups vie for influence and frequently target civilians, military sites, and places of worship alike.
Humanitarian and regional repercussions
The impact of this conflict is not limited to Nigeria; it extends to form a major regional crisis in the Lake Chad Basin. According to United Nations reports, the conflict, which has lasted for more than a decade, has resulted in the deaths of at least 40,000 people and displaced nearly two million in northeastern Nigeria alone, creating one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
The violence has spread to neighboring countries, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, prompting the formation of a multinational force to combat the insurgency. This latest attack underscores the ongoing security challenges facing the Nigerian government as it strives to stabilize the northeastern states, despite previously reported military successes.
