Multiple suicide attacks kill dozens in Nigeria

NIGERIA’S militant group Boko Haram has reportedly pledged allegiance to Islamic State, and its self-declared caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria.

NIGERIA’S militant Islamist group Boko Haram has reportedly pledged allegiance to Islamic State, which rules a self-declared caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria.

The group declared they were loyal to the terrorist group in an audio message, which could not immediately be verified, but was posted on Boko Haram’s Twitter account and appeared to be by the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, the BBC reports.

Boko Haram began a military campaign to impose Islamic rule in northern Nigeria in 2009.

Jihadist monitoring group SITE said the audio stated: “We announce our allegiance to the Caliph ... and will hear and obey in times of difficulty and prosperity.”

Chilling audio ... Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau making a statement at an undisclosed location earlier this year. Picture: AFP

The news of the group joining with Islamic State comes after Boko Haram is being blamed for four suicide bomb attacks that hit the Nigerian city of Maiduguri overnight.

At least 58 people were killed and 139 were wounded in the heartland of Nigeria’s north-eastern Islamic uprising, police said.

The blasts occurred over four hours in locations from a busy fish market to a crowded bus station, Police Commissioner Clement Adoda said.

A fifth explosion from a car bomb at a military checkpoint 75 kilometres outside the city wounded a soldier and two members of a civilian self-defence unit. The bomber apparently wanted to reach Maiduguri, said a police officer at the scene who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the press.

Bustling ... the main gate to the Monday Market is closed after a blast in Maiduguri. Picture: AFP/Omirin

In the deadliest blast, 18 people died when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a tricycle taxi at the entrance to the bustling Baga fish market, police said.

“I saw many dead bodies lying on the ground, many dead, and several others badly injured,” said fish seller Idi Idrisa.

About an hour later a second explosion rocked the Post Office shopping area near the market, according to witness Baban Musa, who said there were many casualties.

A third blast was detonated at Monday Market, the biggest in Maiduguri, and a fourth explosion ripped through the Borno Express bus station.

Investigation ... a man tries to gather traces of the blasts in Maiduguri. Picture: AFP/Five suicide attacks kill dozens

Maiduguri is the birthplace of Boko Haram and the extremists have tried to seize the city with armed assaults by hundreds of fighters and have made it the target for many bombings since they were driven from their base there after a military state of emergency was declared in May 2013.

Boko Haram has increased suicide bombings and village attacks in recent weeks as forces from Nigeria and Chad have driven the insurgents from a score of towns along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.

Every motorable road in Maiduguri blocked and massive screening of everyone by the CJTF.

— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) March 7, 2015

A CJTF that escorted us to safety said the explosion was detonqwted by a young girl!

— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) March 7, 2015

Blaring sirens, wailing victims! Relations rushing to the site! We are escorted out to safety After thorough searching!!!!!

— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) March 7, 2015

Painful tweets. The price of living in a volatile zone. You let many go and tweet some.

— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) March 7, 2015

The unending surrows: A wife lost here, mothers lost there, another sons and daughters lost somewhere, BREADWINNERS LOST...

— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) March 7, 2015

The insurgents also have attacked villages in Cameroon and Niger in response to Nigeria’s neighbours forming a multinational force to confront the spreading Islamic uprising.

Chad’s President Idris Deby this week said his forces know the whereabouts of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and warned him to surrender or face death.

Boko Haram fighters are massing at their headquarters in the north-eastern town of Gwoza, in apparent preparation for a showdown with multinational forces, according to witnesses who escaped from the town.

Suspicion ... vigilantes search a man's bags for explosives at the site of a suicide bomb explosion at a market in Maiduguri. Picture: AP/Jossy Ola

An intelligence officer said they were aware of the movement but that the military is acting cautiously as many civilians still are trapped in the town and Boko Haram is laying landmines around it.

Maiduguri is the capital of Borno state and the biggest city in north-eastern Nigeria, the heart of an Islamic uprising that has killed about 12,000 people in nearly six years.