Bomb Explosion Kills Five During Prayers in Nigeria

At least five people were killed in a bomb explosion inside a crowded mosque in Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno state, according to BBC.

Police spokesman Nahum Daso said a further 35 people were injured in the blast, which struck the Gamboru market area of Maiduguri, the state capital, during evening prayers.

Unverified videos shared on social media appeared to show the scene after the explosion, with dust hanging in the air as people gathered in the market.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, armed groups in the region have repeatedly targeted mosques and busy public spaces using suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices.

Maiduguri has been at the centre of a long-running insurgency led by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province. Boko Haram launched its campaign to establish an Islamic caliphate in Borno state in 2009.

Despite ongoing security operations, sporadic attacks on civilians continue across north-east Nigeria.

Kursiv also reports on the background of violence in Nigeria.