Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
A suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Boko Haram militants exploded inside a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Wednesday evening.
The blast occurred in the city’s Custom area as local residents were gathering for Maghrib prayers.
The attack is consistent with a long-standing pattern of assaults by the jihadist group and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have plagued north-east Nigeria for nearly 15 years.
Since 2009, the insurgents have repeatedly targeted mosques, churches, military posts, markets, and other public facilities, resulting in thousands of deaths and the widespread destruction of property.
At the time of publication, no group has yet claimed responsibility for the latest attack.
There has also been no official confirmation or statement regarding casualties from Operation Hadin Kai, the Nigerian Army’s counter-insurgency command in the region, or from the police.
