Security forces in Yobe State have made a significant breakthrough with the confession of a detained Boko Haram suicide bomber, who revealed he was financially motivated to carry out deadly attacks on worshippers in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Capture and Chilling Confession
The suspect, identified as Ibrahim Mohammed from Michika in Adamawa State, was apprehended by troops of Operation HADIN KAI in collaboration with local hunters. During interrogation, Ibrahim confessed to being a participant in the devastating suicide bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri on December 24.
He stated that the operation was directed by Boko Haram commanders operating between 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 revealed.
Modus Operandi of the Attack
Ibrahim provided a detailed account of how he and an accomplice executed the attack. They strategically chose a time when the mosque was empty, arriving between the Zuhur and Asr prayers.
"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 explained. The improvised explosive devices were coupled and timed to detonate during the 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," the suspect recounted. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of five lives and left 32 other worshippers injured, creating panic in Maiduguri during the festive period.
Disturbing Aftermath and Remorse
In a particularly unsettling twist, Ibrahim admitted to returning to the scene of the carnage he helped create. He posed as a civilian helper to avoid detection.
"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 stated. For his role in the mission, he disclosed receiving payments ranging from N70,000 to N100,000.
Expressing regret for his actions, Ibrahim concluded, "I regret my action for killing innocent people who did not commit any crime." His capture and confession, reported by security expert Zagazola, highlight the ongoing threats and complex challenges faced by security operations in Nigeria's northeast.
