“I Was Paid N70,000–N100,000 To Bomb Worshippers” — Arrested Boko Haram Suicide Bomber Confesses

Damaturu, Yobe State- A suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber arrested by Nigerian troops and local hunters has confessed that he was paid between N70,000 and N100,000 to carry out deadly attacks on worshippers in Maiduguri, shedding new light on the terror group’s recruitment, financing and operational methods.

The suspect, Ibrahim Mohammed, was captured by troops of Operation Hadin Kai in collaboration with local hunters in Yobe State. During interrogation, he admitted his involvement in the December 24 suicide bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The attack, which occurred during the festive period, claimed the lives of at least five worshippers and left 32 others injured, throwing the ancient city into panic and mourning.

“I am Ibrahim from Michika in Adamawa State,” the suspect said. “We were sent to Maiduguri to plant bombs in an Izala mosque. Our leaders, Adamu and Abubakar, gave us two IEDs and directed us to carry out the operation.”

According to Ibrahim, the bombing was planned by Boko Haram commanders operating between Adamawa State and the Mandara Mountains, a known insurgent stronghold along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.

He narrated how the attackers deliberately targeted moments when mosques were less crowded to plant the explosives.

“We came after Zuhur and Asr prayers when the mosque was empty. We pretended to be praying. My colleague dug a hole in the middle of the mosque while I dug by the side,” he said.

He added that the improvised explosive devices were coupled and timed to detonate during the Maghrib prayers, when worshippers had gathered.

“After the first raka’at of Maghrib, the bomb went off. The timing was set for five minutes. After that, I ran towards the market area,” he said.

In a chilling revelation, Ibrahim admitted that he returned to the scene after the explosion and posed as a civilian volunteer.

“When I came back, bodies were being evacuated. I helped to carry the dead and the injured into emergency vehicles,” he confessed.

A security expert,  Zagazola Makama, explained that the suspect further disclosed that suicide bombing had become a paid assignment within the terror network.

“They pay between N70,000 and N100,000 for each mission,” he said, claiming that he later regretted his actions after seeing the extent of civilian casualties.

“I regret killing innocent people who committed no crime,” he added.

Security sources said Ibrahim was part of a wider terror cell dispatched to carry out coordinated attacks across the North-East. The plot allegedly involved elements of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), Ansaru and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), targeting mosques, markets and security formations.

It was gathered that a Boko Haram team 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 operations.

Following the Gamboru Market Mosque attack, Ibrahim reportedly moved to Yobe State for further assignments.

“After the mission, I went to Yobe to carry out reconnaissance on military locations and hunters’ groups for possible attacks on new recruits,” he said, adding that other suicide bombers had already been deployed to Damaturu to target mosques and markets.

At about 2:30 p.m. on December 29, Ibrahim was arrested in Damaturu during a raid on a suspected hideout occupied by Almajirai. Security sources said his unusual behaviour raised suspicion, prompting his arrest.

During interrogation, he confessed to being a member of the Boko Haram JAS faction based in the Mandara Mountains and admitted entering Maiduguri alongside the bomber who carried out the Gamboru Market Mosque attack.

Investigations are ongoing as security agencies intensify efforts to dismantle remaining cells and prevent further attacks across the region.

Meanwhile, he stated  that while his accomplice carried out the Gamboru attack, he was assigned to detonate another bomb at the new Izala Mosque near Tashan Joni, Maiduguri.

“I dropped my own suicide vest or bag around the Izala Mosque because I couldn’t access the mosque due to strict security checks,” he said.

Hiwever, following the confession, troops of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams of the police, were immediately deployed to the Izala Mosque area identified by the suspect.

Although no explosive device has been recovered so far, security sources said it was possible the bag may have been picked up by an unsuspecting individual.

Intelligence sources indicated that Izala mosques were deliberately selected as targets by the terror cell.