Suicide bomber attacks military checkpoint in Maiduguri; ...8 soldiers killed

A suicide bomber exploded a car at a checkpoint outside a military barracks and killed eight soldiers on Thursday, witnesses said of the latest of daily attacks blamed on Boko Haram in Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri.

More than 60 people have been killed by bombings and rocket-propelled grenades since Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari announced at his inauguration May 29 that the command center for the war on the Islamic extremists is moving from Abuja, the capital in central Nigeria, to the group's birthplace in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state at the heart of the war zone.

Later, a second bomb exploded near the main market in Yola, the first such attack to hit the capital of neighboring Adamawa state, police and witnesses said. At least two people were killed, police Deputy Supt. Othman Abubakar said. Hospital workers said they were treating 30 injured.

"I can see blood splattered everywhere, including my car, but I can't give any detail because we are all running," said bread seller Ayuba Dan Mallam.

In Maiduguri, the bomber exploded the car as soldiers were checking it outside Brigadier Maimalari Barracks on bustling Baga Road during the evening rush hour, according to Bashir Malam, a fighter with a civilian defense group that works alongside the military.

Malam said he counted the bodies of eight soldiers.

"The attack was so daring because the suicide bomber must have escaped several checkpoints to get to the soldiers' spot," he said.

The latest attack comes the day Buhari was visiting neighboring Chad, urging more support for a multinational force to crush Boko Haram.

Credit: Associated Press