A powerful explosion rocked the violence-torn Nigerian city of Maiduguri on Tuesday, residents and the military said.
The blast was followed by sporadic gunfire in the northern city, which has been the epicentre of violence blamed on the Islamist sect known as Boko Haram, residents said.
“There was a heavy explosion in London Ciki [neighbourhood] this morning,” said Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Mohammed, spokesperson for a military task force in Maiduguri. “Our men have deployed to the area to assess the situation.”
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Boko Haram also claimed responsibility for the August suicide bombing of UN headquarters in the capital Abuja that killed at least 24 people. — Sapa-AFP