Suicide Bomber Attacks Nigeria Mosque Leading To At Least 26 Dead, Boko Haram Blamed

Just days after Nigeria has elected a new president, identified as President Muhammadu Buhari, Boko Haram is believed to be behind the latest attack at a mosque in Nigeria's city of Maiduguri resulting to the death of at least 18 worshippers.

According to CNN, police officials and witnesses said in a statement that the suicide bomber pretended to be a worshipper in order to join the afternoon prayers. The assailant then set off the explosives inside the mosque that was identified as the Alhaji Haruna. The mosque was located at the Monday Market of Maiduguri and according to Borno police chief Aderemi Opadokun, the roof of the venue was blown off and a couple of Korans were destroyed.

The detonated improvised explosive devices were strapped on the body of the suicide bomber. The police chief added that around 26 people were killed and the bombing incident left at least 28 more injured. The official count is yet to be determined and announced to the public. This is not the first time that the area has been attacked as the Monday Market has always been a target of Boko Haram.

Boko Haram attacked the Dala suburb area hours before the suicide bombing incident leaving the Nigerian military to repel the violence overnight. The insurgents fired grenades into numerous homes for several hours as Boko Haram wanted to advance towards the city and cover more ground.

In a report by Fox News, a witness and a Dala resident said that his home was hit and that the foot of his wife was blown off. He described the attack as a nightmare. Witnesses said that corpses were being taken out of the houses but the death toll has not been finalized yet.

The attacks are said to be possibly a response to the inaugural address of Nigeria's president last Friday as he vowed to end the insurgents' terrorism. Buhari even described these insurgents as mindless and godless in his speech.

Boko Haram has been leading the uprising for six years now and has killed around 13,000 people.