Nigerian Army Arrests Two Suspected Suicide Bombers Linked to Deadly Borno Mosque Attack, Disrupts Boko Haram Logistics Network

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai have reportedly arrested two suspected suicide bombers linked to the December 24, 2025, bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State. One suspect was intercepted at the Banki Central Mosque with primed IED materials during intelligence-led patrols, while another was arrested in Damaturu, Yobe State, and repatriated to Maiduguri for interrogation. Investigations revealed that the attack was part of coordinated plans by Boko Haram factions, including JAS, Ansaru, and JNIM, to carry out multiple suicide and IED attacks across the North-East. The mosque bombing killed five worshippers and injured 32 others. Following the attack, military authorities intensified hunter-killer and pre-emptive operations, leading to further arrests, recovery of explosives, and the interception of urea fertilizer used for IED production. The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and strengthening security around places of worship and markets in the region.

JNIM Launches First Attack in Nigeria, Signaling Potential Jihadist Expansion

Al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has claimed its first attack in Nigeria, killing a soldier in Kwara State on October 31, 2025. Analysts warn this may indicate the start of jihadist expansion into Nigeria’s North Central region. The attack appears symbolic, with no permanent bases yet, and may leverage local militant networks like Lakurawa. Security experts caution that such alliances could increase instability, blur lines between crime and insurgency, and create new security challenges for Nigeria.

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