Ibrahim Mohammed, a suspected Boko Haram operative arrested over the Christmas Eve mosque bombing in Maiduguri, Borno State, has claimed he was paid about ₦100,000 to carry out the attack.
The explosion occurred at a mosque in Gamboru Market, where a suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device (IED), killing five people and injuring 32 others.
Mohammed, one of two suspects apprehended by troops in connection with the incident, said the operation was carried out on the orders of his commanders, identified as Adamu and Abubakar. According to counterinsurgency platform Zagazola Makama, he disclosed that the attack was coordinated by Boko Haram leaders operating between Adamawa State and the Mandara Mountains.
“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,” he said.
After the blast, Mohammed said he returned to the scene disguised as a first responder and helped evacuate victims.
“When I returned to the mosque, they were evacuating dead bodies. I helped them convey the corpses and injured people in emergency vehicles,” he said.
The suspect revealed that he later moved to Yobe State for further missions, including reconnaissance on military locations and hunters’ groups. He added that he received between ₦70,000 and ₦100,000 for each operation he carried out.
“After the mission, I proceeded to Yobe for another assignment, to carry out recce on military positions and hunters’ groups for possible attacks on new recruits,” he said.
“I was paid money ranging from ₦70,000 to ₦100,000 per mission.”
Mohammed also claimed to be part of a broader terror network responsible for several attacks across the North-East, linked to factions of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), Ansaru, and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
He was arrested on Monday in Damaturu by local hunters working with Operation Hadin Kai during a raid on a suspected hideout. Security sources said his unusual presence among a group of Almajiri pupils raised suspicion, leading to his arrest.
The suspect further disclosed that there were plans to attack the new Izala Mosque near Tashan Joni, but the plot was abandoned due to heightened security in the area.