Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday assured Nigerians that the country will overcome terrorism, pledging that the Federal Government remains resolute in restoring peace and protecting lives across conflict-affected areas.
Shettima gave the assurance during a visit to victims of Wednesday’s deadly bombing at a mosque near Gamboru Market in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Speaking at the Muhammadu Buhari Trauma Centre of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where survivors of the attack are receiving treatment, the Vice President conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s condolences and reaffirmed the government’s determination to end insecurity in the North-East.
“We are here on behalf of the President to sympathise with the victims and to reassure the good people of Borno State, and indeed Nigerians, that the government remains unwavering in its commitment to securing lives and property,” Shettima said.
“By the grace of God, this madness will soon be brought to an end,” he added, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication.
Medical officials at the hospital briefed the Vice President on the condition of the victims, confirming that 14 people were admitted following the explosion.
The Chief Medical Director disclosed that one of the victims died shortly after arrival, bringing the death toll from the attack to five. He said seven patients were still on admission, including one in critical condition at the intensive care unit, while five others had been treated and discharged.
Shettima, who was accompanied by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum during the visit, commended the state government for its sustained efforts in addressing security and humanitarian challenges in the region.
“The Governor of Borno has been working tirelessly to complement the efforts of the Federal Government. I sincerely appreciate his commitment,” the Vice President said.
He stressed that unity between the federal and state governments remained critical in confronting terrorism and rebuilding affected communities.
“We are united in victory and in challenges. We are one nation tied to a common destiny,” Shettima added.
Governor Zulum, in his remarks, reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting ongoing security operations and providing assistance to victims of insurgency.
The explosion occurred at about 6:00 pm on Wednesday at the Al-Adum Jumaat Mosque, close to Gamboru Market, during evening prayers.
A spokesman for Operation Hadin Kai confirmed on Thursday that preliminary investigations indicated the blast was caused by a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber, who detonated an improvised explosive device, killing himself and at least two civilians at the scene.
Similarly, the Borno State Police Command said early findings pointed to a suicide attack, citing the recovery of fragments believed to be from a suicide vest as well as eyewitness accounts.
The attack shattered a period of relative calm in Maiduguri’s urban centre, where the last major incident was recorded in 2021.
Maiduguri has remained a focal point of the Boko Haram insurgency and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province, since the conflict began in 2009. The groups have frequently targeted mosques, markets and other crowded public spaces using suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices.
According to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria now ranks sixth globally, up from eighth position in 2023 and 2024, underscoring persistent security challenges despite ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
In response to Wednesday’s bombing, the Borno State Police Command deployed more than 1,000 officers across the state, while Explosives Ordnance Disposal teams carried out routine sweeping and scanning of worship centres and recreational areas.
Other states, including Sokoto, also announced heightened security measures around worship and public spaces during the Christmas period.