A suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber, Ibrahim Mohammed, arrested by troops of Operation Hadin Kai in collaboration with local hunters in Yobe State, has revealed how he was recruited, funded and deployed to carry out deadly attacks on worshippers in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Mohammed, who confessed to his role in the December 24 suicide bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque, said he received up to ₦100,000 for suicide bombing missions.
During interrogation, he disclosed that the attack was planned and executed on the orders of 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 said.
The attack on the Gamboru Market Mosque killed five people and injured 32 worshippers, triggering panic in Maiduguri during the festive period.
Explaining how the operation was carried out, Ibrahim said the attackers exploited moments when the mosque was empty to plant the explosives.
“We came after Zuhur and Asr prayers when the mosque was empty. 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 said.
He added that the devices were connected and timed ahead of 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,” he said.
In a disturbing admission, Ibrahim said he returned to the scene after the explosion and pretended to be a civilian offering help.
“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.
The suspect also revealed that suicide bombing has become a paid task within the terror group.
“I was paid money ranging from ₦70,000 to ₦100,000 per mission,” he said.
However, he claimed to have regretted his actions after seeing the extent of civilian casualties.
“I regret my action for killing innocent people who did not commit any crime,” Ibrahim said.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, Ibrahim was part of a broader terror network dispatched to carry out coordinated attacks across the North-East. The plan allegedly involved elements of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), Ansaru, and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
Sources said a Boko Haram cell led by a notorious IED expert, Munzir Abu Ziyadah, prepared up to 10 person-borne improvised explosive devices (PBIEDs) from the Ali Ngulde camp axis for the operation.
After the Gamboru Market Mosque attack, Ibrahim reportedly moved to Yobe State to scout for further targets.
“After the mission, I proceeded to Yobe for another assignment, to carry out recce on military positions and hunters’ groups for possible attacks on new recruits,” he said.
He further disclosed that additional suicide bombers had been deployed to Damaturu to target mosques and markets.
Ibrahim was arrested at about 2:30 p.m. on December 29 in Damaturu by local hunters working with Operation Hadin Kai during a raid on a suspected hideout occupied by Almajirai.
Security sources said his unusual behaviour raised suspicion, leading to his arrest and subsequent interrogation, during which he confessed to being a member of the Boko Haram JAS faction operating from the Mandara Mountains.
He also admitted that he entered Maiduguri alongside the bomber who detonated the explosive device at the Gamboru Market Mosque.