At least five people were killed and more than 30 others injured when an explosion ripped through a mosque during prayers in Maiduguri, a city in northeastern Nigeria, on Wednesday night, police said, indicating it was likely a suicide bombing.
Police reported that 35 worshippers sustained injuries in the blast.
Nahum Daso, spokesman for the Borno State police command, said debris believed to be from a suicide vest was recovered from the scene.
The attack adds to a long string of violence in Nigeria’s restive north, where security forces are fighting several armed groups, including Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province.
According to the United Nations, the insurgency that began in 2009 has claimed thousands of lives and forced millions of people to flee their homes.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack, suicide bombings have long been associated with Boko Haram, which has carried out numerous similar assaults in the region.
Security analysts note that while the group’s use of suicide bombers has declined in recent years, it remains capable of carrying out such operations. In July 2024, coordinated suicide attacks at a wedding in Borno renewed concerns about a possible resurgence of the tactic.