Twenty six people were killed on Saturday after a suspected suicide bomber detonated his Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in a Mosque near the Monday Market in Maiduguri.

A trader at the market, Mallam Modu Walama, told newsmen that the blast occurred shortly before the commencement of the second afternoon prayer at the mosque.

“I had wanted to say my afternoon prayer but something told me to go inside the market. But immediately I left the vicinity, I heard a loud blast emanating from the mosque,” Walama said.

He said that on hearing the blast, he took to his heels to escape being injured.

“I cannot say exactly the casualty figure but I know so many people died,” Walama said.

Mallam Mohammed Abubakar, another trader, corroborated the claim.
“I think about 20 people died going by the magnitude of the blast,” Abubakar said.

Reacting, Mr Aderemi Opadokun, the Borno Commissioner of Police, confirmed the blast.
“A suicide bomber strapped with IED exploded himself in Alhaji Haruna Mosque at Galadima Kyari drive Ali Kotoko Road near the Monday Market.

“The incident happened around 3.30 p.m., while Al-Asr prayer was being offered at the mosque,” Opadokun said.

“Twenty six people were confirmed dead while 28 were injured,” he said.

Early today, no fewer than 11 people also died in Maiduguri after Boko Haram militants fired rocket propelled grenades into homes. They were later repelled by a combined military and civilian vigilante force.

And yesterday, a wedding in Tashan Alade town of Hawul Local Government Area was marred by a suicide bomber, killing at least six persons, with over 30 people injured.(Read the report here: https://thenewsnigeria.com.ng2015/05/29/suicide-bomber-kills-6-at-wedding-party/I confirm the report on an alleged suicide bombing in Tashan Alade in Hawul )

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the military high command to move out of Abuja to Maiduguri, to battle the insurgents.