Speaking to Daily Trust on Thursday, the imam said the atmosphere in the mosque was calm, with no indication of danger, especially as the area had enjoyed relative peace for a long time.
He said, “I was leading the prayer when the explosion occurred. At first, I thought our solar battery had exploded. But when I looked around, I saw the blood of the suicide bomber splashed on the wall. That was when people began to fall and scream.”
The imam said the incident sent shockwaves through the mosque and its surroundings as worshippers struggled to escape in confusion and fear.
While adding that the mosque would only reopen after receiving clearance from security agencies, he said, “When we reopen, we will return to our former security arrangements. Our youths will search worshippers before they are allowed into the mosque.”
A day after the attack, fear remained palpable in Maiduguri, with residents reporting heightened anxiety around mosques and other places of worship.
Security operatives cordoned off the area and increased patrols around crowded locations, a development that slowed business activities, especially with the Christmas season.
The Borno State Police Command said there had been no increase in the death toll. Police spokesperson, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, said investigations were ongoing to uncover those behind the attack.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that 40 people sustained injuries in the blast.
The Head of Operations for Borno and Yobe states, Mr Surajo Garba, said 25 victims were admitted at the State Specialist Hospital, while 15 were receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).
“Two of the victims initially brought to UMTH are in critical condition, while the remaining have been moved to the wards and are responding to treatment,” he said.
Survivors of the blast described the incident as devastating. One of them, Baan Kawuri, said, “I only remember a deafening sound. I found myself on the ground and couldn’t hear anything. I was confused until I realised I was in the hospital.”
Another survivor, Mustafa Bunu, who sustained a leg injury, urged the government and security agencies to heighten vigilance across the city.
He said, “We don’t know how many suicide bombers may have entered the town. Security should be strengthened in mosques, churches and all worship centres.
“I was with two boys who worked for me minutes before the incident. I rushed back to see if they could be rescued, but they were already lifeless. They died instantly.”
Meanwhile, Christian residents said security was tightened during church services following the attack. One of them, Miyani Joseph, said worshippers were thoroughly searched and strangers questioned.
He said, “There was panic everywhere, but people understood the need for strict security measures.”
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