The Nigerian Army’s Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), has confirmed an explosion at a mosque within Gamboru Market in Maiduguri, Borno State, during evening prayers on Tuesday, leaving four civilians dead and 32 others injured.

The Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the incident occurred at about 6:00 p.m. while Muslim faithful were observing Maghrib prayers.

Uba said preliminary findings indicated that the explosion was caused by a suspected Boko Haram terrorist suicide bomber, who detonated an improvised explosive device, killing himself and two civilians at the scene.

He added that troops, working with the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, other security agencies, the Borno State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), responded swiftly to the incident.

“The affected area was immediately secured and cordoned off to prevent further harm and ensure public safety, while casualties were evacuated to the General Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for medical attention,” he said.

According to him, 32 civilians sustained varying degrees of injuries, but two of them later died at the hospital, bringing the total civilian death toll to four.

He noted that two other victims were in critical condition, while the remaining injured persons were stable and responding to treatment.

Uba said security agencies had intensified surveillance and security measures within Maiduguri and its environs to forestall further attacks, particularly during the yuletide season.

He urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, avoid crowded places and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security post.

The OPHK spokesman also advised the public to be alert to unusual movements, especially around religious centres, and expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident.

He reassured the public of the military’s continued commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the North-East. (Zagazola, excluding headline)