Christmas Eve Tragedy: PDP Slams Federal Government Over Borno Mosque Blast
As Nigeria enters the peak of the festive season, a dark shadow has been cast over the nation. On Wednesday, December 24, 2025, a devastating explosion ripped through a mosque in the Gamboru Market area of Maiduguri, Borno State, leaving a trail of blood and mourning on Christmas Eve.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has wasted no time in condemning the attack, describing it as a “woeful failure” of the current administration to protect the basic right to life and worship.
Table of Contents
The Incident: Prayer Interrupted by Terror
Casualty Count: The Human Cost of the Blast
The PDP’s Verdict: “Rhetoric Over Results”
A Threat to Religious Freedom: The 2025 Security Context
Looking Ahead: Strengthening National Security
The Incident: Prayer Interrupted by Terror
At approximately 6:00 p.m. local time, as worshippers gathered for the Maghrib (evening) prayers, a loud explosion rocked the Gamboru Market mosque. Preliminary reports from the Borno State Police Command suggest the blast may have been a suicide bombing, though some witnesses believe the device was planted inside the building beforehand.
This attack is particularly significant because Maiduguri, once the epicenter of the insurgency, had enjoyed a period of relative peace in recent years. This breach of security in the heart of the state capital signals a worrying resurgence of extremist reach.
Casualty Count: The Human Cost of the Blast
While the official count is still being finalized, the devastation is clear. Emergency responders and local hospitals have been working through the night to treat the survivors.
| Metric | Current Estimates (as of Dec 25, 2025) |
| Confirmed Fatalities | 5 to 10 people |
| Injured Worshippers | 30 to 35 people |
| Hospitals Involved | Maiduguri Specialist & UMTH |
| Suspected Perpetrators | Boko Haram / ISWAP |
The PDP’s Verdict: “Rhetoric Over Results”
In a scathing statement issued by PDP spokesperson Ini Ememobong, the opposition party expressed deep sympathy for the victims but redirected its anger toward the Federal Government. The PDP argues that “assurance and political statements” have replaced “concrete security strategies”.
Failure of Core Responsibility: The PDP maintains that the “irreducible minimum” a government must provide is the protection of life and property—a standard they believe this administration has missed.
Politics with Security: Ememobong cautioned the government against playing politics with national safety, urging a shift from “rhetoric” to active deployment of security forces in vulnerable areas.
A Threat to Religious Freedom: The 2025 Security Context
The timing and location of the attack—a mosque on Christmas Eve—highlight a broader threat to Nigeria’s social fabric. The PDP warned that such “senseless attacks” undermine the constitutional right to freely practice faith and threaten national unity.
This incident does not exist in a vacuum. The 2025 security landscape has been increasingly volatile:
The Niger State Crisis: Just last month, over 300 students were abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State.
International Attention: Recent reports suggest the U.S. military has developed contingency plans for intervention in Nigeria, reflecting global concern over the rising tide of terrorism and banditry.
Looking Ahead: Strengthening National Security
In response to the growing threat, President Bola Tinubu recently increased police recruitment targets to 50,000, but as the PDP suggests, the public is demanding more than just “boots on the ground”. They are demanding results.
As we move into the New Year, the focus remains on whether the government can reclaim poorly governed rural spaces and secure urban markets like Gamboru to prevent another tragedy.
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