Suspect confesses how much he was given to bomb Borno Mosque where 5 persons were killed

Suspect confesses how much he was given to bomb Borno Mosque where 5 persons were killed

A man identified as Ibrahim Mohammed, alleged to be a Boko Haram operative, has admitted his role in a deadly mosque bombing in Maiduguri, Borno State, revealing that he was financially induced to carry out the attack.

The disclosure was made public on Wednesday by counter-insurgency analyst Zagazola Makama via his X (formerly Twitter) account, citing information obtained from security sources.

Makama reported that Ibrahim was apprehended in Yobe State by troops of Operation Hadin Kai with assistance from local hunters. His arrest followed suspicions raised by his unusual conduct during a security operation.

“At about 2:30 p.m. on December 29, Ibrahim was arrested in Damaturu by local hunters working with Operation Hadin Kai during a raid on a suspected hideout inhabited by Almajirai. Security sources said his strange presence among the group raised suspicion, leading to his arrest and interrogation,” Makama wrote.

During questioning, the suspect reportedly confessed to his involvement in the December 24 attack on Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri, an incident that left five people dead and 32 others injured.

Makama, quoting security officials, said Ibrahim acknowledged acting on orders from Boko Haram leaders operating around Adamawa State and the Mandara Mountains.

“My name is Ibrahim from Michika in Adamawa. We came to Maiduguri to plant bombs in Izala Mosque. We were sent by our leaders, Adamu and Abubakar, who gave us two IEDs to plant in the mosque,” he said.

The suspect explained that the attackers deliberately chose moments when worship centres were largely empty to plant the devices.

“We came after Zuhur and Asr prayers when the mosque was empty.

We entered, pretending to pray. My colleague was digging to plant the IED in the middle of the mosque while I was digging by the side,” Ibrahim said.

He further stated that the explosives were set to detonate during Maghrib prayers.

“As Muslim faithful gathered to pray Maghrib, after the first raka’at, we detonated the bomb. We set the timing for five minutes. Shortly after, I ran to the market area,” he added.

In another revelation, Ibrahim said he returned to the scene shortly after the blast and posed as a civilian assisting emergency efforts.

“When I returned to the mosque, they were evacuating dead bodies. I helped them to convey the corpses and injured people in emergency vehicles,” he confessed.

According to the suspect, suicide missions within the terror group were monetised assignments. “I was paid money ranging from N70,000 to N100,000 per mission,” he said, noting that he later regretted his involvement.

Security sources also told Makama that Ibrahim belonged to a broader network tasked with coordinated attacks across the North-East, involving factions such as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), Ansaru, and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

“It was gathered that a Boko Haram team led by a notorious IED expert, Munzir Abu Ziyadah, allegedly prepared up to 10 person-borne improvised explosive devices from the Ali Ngulde camp axis for the planned attacks,” Makama revealed.

Following the Gamboru Market Mosque incident, Ibrahim allegedly relocated to Yobe State to continue assignments for the group.

“After the mission, I proceeded to Yobe for another assignment, to carry out a recce on military positions and hunters’ groups for possible attacks on new recruits,” he said.

He further claimed that other bombers had been dispatched to Damaturu with plans to strike mosques and markets. Makama added that Ibrahim disclosed plans for another attack at a different location in Maiduguri.

“I dropped my own suicide vest or bag around the Izala Mosque because I couldn’t access the mosque due to strict security checks,” he said.

In response to the information provided by the suspect, troops of Operation Hadin Kai, alongside police explosive ordnance disposal units, were deployed to the identified area.

While no explosive device has been found so far, security officials cautioned that the bag may have been unknowingly taken by a member of the public.