Troops under Operation Hadin Kai have taken into custody eight persons suspected of being connected to the suicide bombing that occurred at a mosque in Borno State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the attack happened on December 24, 2025, when a suicide bomber set off an improvised explosive device inside a mosque located at Gamborun Market in Maiduguri, the state capital. The blast claimed the lives of at least five worshippers, while 35 others sustained injuries.
Confirming the arrests in a statement issued on Monday, the media information officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Sani Uba, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended during a military operation conducted in the Yan Lemo area of Mubi South LGA, Adamawa State, in the early hours of the day. He said two of those arrested are believed to be key facilitators within the suicide bombing network.
According to Uba, troops searched the residence where the suspects were found and recovered several items. He said, “A search of the suspects’ residence led to the recovery of cash, mobile phones, identification documents, ATM cards, jewellery, and other personal effects, which are currently undergoing forensic analysis to support ongoing investigations.”
He further explained that existing intelligence helped in linking the suspects to the attack. Uba stated, “During identification procedures, a suspect already in custody positively identified the two principal suspects as individuals who supplied materials used in preparing the Improvised Explosive Device (IED)”, adding that additional occupants of the residence were also linked to the network.
Uba noted that all suspects remain in military custody, undergoing detailed interrogation to facilitate further intelligence recovery before being transferred for continued investigation.
The military had earlier arrested two other suspects in connection with the bombing and identified Shariff Umar as the principal coordinator of a suicide bombing network associated with recent attacks and attempted attacks across the North-East.
