Nigerian official: Three explosions hit Borno state capital

More than 1,000 people have been killed by Boko Haram violence since President Muhammadu Buhari was elected in March with a pledge to wipe out the extremists. (Source: Google maps)

Extremists detonated three explosive devices in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, in Nigeria’s northeast, a military official has said. Details on casualties were not readily available, said military spokesman Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman on Sunday.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the initial suspicion has fallen on the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, which has resorted to hit-and-run tactics after the Nigerian military recaptured territory once held by the militants.

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Usman said the attacks signify the increasing desperation of Boko Haram. At least 20,000 people have been killed in Boko Haram’s six-year-old uprising which has displaced 2.1 million people across three countries.