Suspected Maiduguri Mosque bomber arrested in Yobe

By Johnson Arua

A suspect linked to the December 24 bomb explosion at a mosque in Maiduguri has been arrested in Damaturu, Yobe State, by members of a local vigilante group.

The suspect, identified as Ibrahim Mohammed, was subsequently handed over to troops of Sector 2 of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), the Joint Task Force in the North-East.

The arrest was confirmed by the Special Adviser on Security Matters to Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, Retired Brigadier-General Abdulsalam Abubakar, during an interview in Damaturu on Wednesday.

He explained that the vigilante group, which is part of the state’s security framework, is funded by the Yobe State Government and operates under the military’s operational control.

According to Abubakar, Mohammed was apprehended on December 29 while allegedly carrying out surveillance on behalf of insurgents.

He was said to be gathering intelligence on the deployment and locations of troops and vigilante operatives across parts of Yobe State.

Following his arrest, the suspect was jointly profiled by the military and other security agencies before being transferred to the Theatre Command headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri, Borno State, for further interrogation.

Abubakar expressed confidence that the ongoing investigation would yield valuable information leading to the arrest of other members of the suspect’s network, including the leaders of his cell.

The security adviser further disclosed that the suspect reportedly confessed to having planted another explosive device in a market in Maiduguri, prompting calls for urgent action by relevant security agencies to locate and neutralize the device.

He urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with credible information, stressing that collective vigilance remains key to restoring lasting peace in the region.