A suspected Boko Haram operative has made a chilling confession, stating he was paid N100,000 to carry out a deadly bombing of a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The suspect, identified as Ibrahim Mohammed, was arrested in a joint operation by troops of Operation Hadin Kai and local hunters, revealing a disturbing glimpse into the terror group’s operations.
Ibrahim was apprehended on December 29 in Damaturu, Yobe State, following a raid on a hideout. Security sources told counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama that the suspect’s “strange presence” among a group of Almajirai raised suspicion, leading to his capture and subsequent interrogation.
During questioning, Ibrahim confessed to his direct involvement in the December 24 bombing of the Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri, an attack that claimed the lives of five worshippers and left 32 others injured.
The suspect detailed a cold, premeditated plan. He said he and an accomplice were sent by Boko Haram commanders Adamu and Abubakar, who operate between Adamawa State and the Mandara Mountains. They were given two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) with a specific mission.
“We came after Zuhur and Asr prayers when the mosque was empty,” Ibrahim stated. “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.”
The bombs were timed to detonate during the Maghrib (sunset) prayer. “We set the timing for five minutes. Shortly after, I ran to the market area,” he added.
In a horrifying twist, Ibrahim revealed that he returned to the scene of carnage he had helped create. Disguising himself, he blended in with the crowd of first responders.
“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 confessed, showcasing a shocking level of deception.
Perhaps one of the most disturbing revelations was Ibrahim’s admission that such acts of violence are monetized within the terror group. “I was paid money ranging from N70,000 to N100,000 per mission,” he said, adding that he later felt regret for his actions.
Security sources indicate that Ibrahim was part of a wider terror cell involving factions of JAS, Ansaru, and JNIM, deployed for coordinated attacks across the North-East. The cell was allegedly led by a notorious IED expert, Munzir Abu Ziyadah.
After the Maiduguri bombing, Ibrahim moved to Yobe State for further assignments, including reconnaissance on military positions. He also disclosed that other suicide bombers had been deployed to Damaturu to target mosques and markets.
Crucially, he warned that during a failed mission, he had abandoned a suicide vest near a new Izala Mosque close to Tashan Joni in Maiduguri after being unable to bypass security. Troops and EOD teams have been deployed to the area, but the device remains missing, raising fears that an unsuspecting civilian may have picked it up.
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