The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the bomb explosion that rocked a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Wednesday, describing the attack as unacceptable and blaming the administration of President Bola Tinubu for what it said was a failure to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the opposition party said the incident highlighted the deteriorating security situation across the country.
“The reported explosion at a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, is yet another painful reminder of the escalating insecurity that has sadly become the reality for Nigerians,” the PDP stated.
Describing the attack as “totally unacceptable,” the party stressed that protecting citizens remains the foremost responsibility of any government.
“The bare minimum any government owes its people is the protection of lives and property. This administration has failed woefully in this regard and should rise to the challenge instead of resorting to rhetoric and politicising security,” the statement said.
The PDP expressed condolences to families of victims, insisting that no Nigerian should be killed while worshipping.
“No one should lose their life in the course of worshipping God,” it added.
The party also warned that persistent attacks on places of worship could undermine constitutional rights and heighten fear among religious communities.
“Unchecked attacks on places of worship not only infringe on Nigerians’ constitutional right to freely practise their faith but also foster an atmosphere of fear that threatens the fabric of our religious coexistence,” the statement noted.
Calling for swift action, the PDP urged the Federal and Borno State governments to go beyond assurances and implement concrete security measures, particularly during the yuletide season.
“We call on the Federal and State Governments to take immediate, practical steps to secure the lives of citizens during this yuletide period and beyond. Nigerians deserve more than empty promises and political rhetoric,” the party said.
According to reports, suspected Boko Haram insurgents detonated an improvised explosive device at a Juma’at Mosque in Gamboru Ward, near the Customs area of Maiduguri, on Wednesday evening while worshippers were observing the Maghrib prayer.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Borno State, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed that five persons were killed in the blast, while about 35 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.