A teenage suicide bomber detonated explosives inside the Medina mosque in Mubi during morning (Fajr) prayers, as worshippers gathered. The blast occurred in a crowded setting, killing at least 50 people, the majority men and boys.
21 Nov 2017 · Mubi, Mubi North, Adamawa
Deaths
50
Injured
30
Kidnapped
0
Total casualties
80
Perpetrators
Boko Haram
Response
President Muhammadu Buhari tweeted that he was "saddened by the very cruel and dastardly suicide bombing attack" and assured that his government would do "everything required" to secure the state from Boko Haram.
Displacement
0
Socioeconomic drivers
Targeting a mosque to punish populations that reject the sect's extremist Takfiri doctrine, utilizing a teenager to bypass adult profiling.
Trajectory
The group shifted from conventional territorial control toward high-visibility civilian targeting in previously secured zones of Adamawa and Borno, increasing operational reach through child operatives and exploiting porous borders with Cameroon.
Cycle notes
Mirrored Boko Haram’s recurring pattern of mosque-targeted attacks during prayer times, including the 16 January 2017 University of Maiduguri mosque-area bombing, 18 June 2017 Ramadan worship attacks, 17 July 2017 Maiduguri mosque bombing, 26 September 2017 Dikwa mosque attack, and 30 October 2017 Ajiri (Yala) mosque bombing, collectively reflecting a sustained tactic of striking densely populated religious gatherings—especially high-attendance prayers like Fajr and Ramadan periods—to maximize casualties by exploiting predictable worship schedules and concentrated civilian presence.
Pattern
Attacks on Religious Institutions
Related — Bombing/IED
In one of the most violent Scorched Earth raids near the state capital, Boko Haram fighters attacked the village of Dalori and its adjacent IDP camp. The insurgents arrived in two Volkswagen Golf cars and on motorcycles, dressed in military camouflage. They opened fire indiscriminately and used firebombs to torch the thatched-roof huts while residents, including children, were still inside. As survivors fled towards the nearby "Dalori II" camp, three female suicide bombers detonated themselves among the crowd.
An improvised explosive device (IED) suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists detonated at a local bus stop in Mairari village, Guzamala Local Government Area, Borno State. The victims were awaiting passengers who had gathered at the bus stop to board commercial vehicles after working on their farms. The blast killed nine people instantly and left several others injured. The injured victims were evacuated to hospitals in Monguno and Maiduguri for treatment.
A male suicide bomber, suspected to be wearing a Body-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (BBIED) vest, entered the Al-Adum Juma’at Mosque inside the busy Gamboru Market in Maiduguri, Borno State, during evening prayers. The bomber detonated the explosives in the middle of a packed congregation . The blast caused the partial collapse of the mosque’s interior and triggered a stampede in the surrounding market area. Survivors described dust filling the air and the sound being so loud it deafened some worshippers . According to the Nigerian Army, the bomber killed himself and two civilians at the scene, while 32 others sustained injuries; two of the injured later died at the hospital, bringing the confirmed death toll to at least five . However, community sources reported that 12 worshippers were buried following Islamic rites, suggesting a higher toll . The mosque’s Imam, Alhaji Mohammed, stated that the explosion occurred just after the first raka’at of the Maghrib prayer.