I was paid N100,000 to bomb worshippers – Suspected Maiduguri suicide bomber

In a disturbing intelligence breakthrough, a suspected Boko Haram operative has provided a rare glimpse into the logistical shift toward “paid” suicide missions in Northeast Nigeria. Ibrahim Mohammed, who was captured by troops of Operation Hadin Kai and local hunters in Yobe State, confessed to his role in the Christmas Eve bombing of the Al-Adum Juma’at Mosque at Gamboru Market in Maiduguri. The attack, which struck during evening prayers on December 24, 2025, killed five people and left 32 others injured.

During his interrogation, Mohammed revealed that he was recruited from Michika, Adamawa State, and received payments ranging from N70,000 to N100,000 for each bombing mission. He detailed how he and an accomplice, acting under the directives of commanders named Adamu and Abubakar based in the Mandara Mountains, infiltrated the mosque during the quiet hours between afternoon prayers.

Mohammed explained that they entered the facility pretending to be worshippers and planted two improvised explosive devices (IEDs)—one buried in the center of the floor and another along the side of the building. The devices were set with a five-minute timer to coincide with the first raka’at of the Maghrib prayer. “As Muslim faithful gathered to pray Maghrib, after the first raka’at, we detonated the bomb,” he admitted, noting that he fled into the market area immediately after setting the device.

The suspect’s confession highlights a calculated tactical resurgence by the Aliyu Ngulde-led JAS faction, which security analysts note has increasingly targeted high-density civilian “soft targets.” The capture of Mohammed is expected to assist the military in mapping current insurgent command structures and financial networks operating across the Adamawa and Borno border regions