A suspected Boko Haram su!cide bomber, Ibrahim Mohammed, captured by troops of Operation HADIM KAI in collaboration with hunters in Yobe state has confessed to being paid N100, 000 to carry out suicide bombings on worshippers in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Ibrahim Mohammed
Security expert, Zagazola, reports that Ibrahim confessed to involvement in the Dec. 24 su!cide bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque, Maiduguri. He said the operation was planned and executed under the directive 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 during interrogation
The Gamboru Market Mosque attack claimed five lives and left 32 worshippers injured, plunging Maiduguri town into confusion during the festive period.
Narrating how the attack was executed, Ibrahim said the operatives exploited periods when mosques were empty to plant the explosive devices.
“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.
According to him, the devices were coupled 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 twist, Ibrahim admitted that after the explosion, he returned to the scene and pretended to be a civilian helper.
“When I returned to the mosque, they were evacuating dead bodies. I helped them to convey the corpses and injured people in emergency vehicles. I was paid money ranging from N70,000 to N100,000 per mission.
I regret my action for k!lling innocent people who did not commit any crime” Ibrahim said.
