• A bomb exploded during prayers at a mosque in Maiduguri, Nigeria, killing at least five people.
• Thirty-five others were injured in the attack, described by police as likely a suicide bombing.
• No group has claimed responsibility, but Boko Haram is suspected due to the nature of the attack.
• Borno State's Governor condemned the attack, calling it "barbaric and inhumane".
• The blast raises concerns about security amidst an ongoing insurgency in northeastern Nigeria.

An explosion occurred at Al-Adum mosque in Maiduguri during evening prayers on December 24, 2025, resulting in at least five fatalities and thirty-five injuries. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as victims were quickly transported to medical facilities, with police confirming the casualties and indicating the incident to be a suspected suicide bombing. Fragments of a suspected suicide vest were reportedly found at the site, raising fears of a resurgence of such violent tactics in the region, where insurgent group Boko Haram has been active for years, according to lemonde, africanews, and reuters.

Police spokesperson Kenneth Daso confirmed the bomb disposal teams were dispatched to secure the area following the attack. Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum denounced the incident as “barbaric and inhumane,” highlighting the importance of vigilance in places of worship during the holiday season and extending condolences to the victims' families. “Attacking a place of worship is a desecration of its sanctity,” Zulum stated, underscoring the deepening security concerns in Northeastern Nigeria, as reported by aljazeera and cbsnews.

The attack at the mosque adds to a troubling pattern of violence by extremist groups in the area, with a joint national and international effort ongoing to combat these threats. The recent years have seen fluctuations in the intensity of attacks, with Maiduguri experiencing relative calm until this incident, reflecting the persistent instability in the region worsened by a 15-year conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, according to lemonde, africanews, reuters, aljazeera, and cbsnews.