A bomb explosion ripped through a crowded mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state, on Tuesday evening, killing at least seven people and injuring 35 others, police confirmed.

Police spokesperson Nahum Daso told local media that the blast occurred during evening prayers near the Gamboru market area, a busy commercial hub that attracts large crowds, especially after sunset. Emergency responders rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, while security forces cordoned off the area to prevent further casualties.

Unverified videos circulating on social media showed chaotic scenes in the aftermath, with dust-filled air, damaged structures, and residents attempting to help the wounded. Authorities have urged the public to rely on official updates as investigations continue.

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No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. However, militant groups operating in the region have a history of targeting mosques, markets, and other crowded civilian locations using suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Maiduguri has long been the epicenter of a violent insurgency led by Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The conflict began in 2009, when Boko Haram launched an armed campaign to establish an Islamic caliphate in Borno state and surrounding areas.

Despite years of military operations and heightened security measures, sporadic attacks on civilians continue across northeast Nigeria, underscoring ongoing challenges faced by security forces in fully dismantling militant networks.

Authorities have pledged to intensify security patrols around places of worship and public spaces, while urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity as investigations into the mosque bombing progress.