At least seven killed in bomb attack on mosque in Nigeria

At least seven people were killed and dozens more wounded when a bomb exploded inside a crowded mosque in Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno state, according to foreign media reports, citing the local police.

Police spokesman Nahum Daso told local media that the blast occurred during evening prayers at the Gamboru market in Maiduguri, the state capital. He said at least 35 people were injured in the explosion, which struck as worshippers were gathered inside the mosque.

Unverified footage circulating on social media appeared to show the aftermath of the attack, with people standing in a market area amid clouds of dust and debris following the blast.

No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion. However, the region has seen repeated attacks by militant groups that have previously targeted mosques and other crowded locations using suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices.

Maiduguri has long been at the centre of an insurgency led by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, as well as its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province. Boko Haram launched its campaign in Borno state in 2009, seeking to establish an Islamic caliphate through sustained violence.

Despite years of military operations and heightened security measures aimed at weakening the insurgents, authorities have been unable to prevent sporadic attacks against civilians, which continue to underscore the persistent insecurity in north-east Nigeria.

By Tamilla Hasanova