1st LD Writethru: At least 9 killed, 45 injured in Nigeria blasts

Fresh multiple blasts in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno have killed at least nine people and injured 45 others, an attack suspected to be perpetrated by Boko Haram, locals said on Monday.

A male suicide bomber first detonated his improvised explosive device inside a mosque in Ajilari area of Maiduguri, capital of the restive Borno State late Sunday, killing nine people and injured 15, Bulama Yusuf, a resident said.

Five minutes after the first blast, two other explosions followed at Gomari axis of the state, injuring more than 30 people. Two vehicles belonging to the Nigerian police and a local relief agency transported the injured to nearby hospitals, said the local resident.

Bodies of the deceased were deposited in a morgue at the Borno State Specialists Hospital, according to another witness.

Spokesman of the Nigerian army Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman confirmed the blasts to Xinhua, saying although details were unclear, "the attacks signify high level of desperation on the part of the Boko Haram terrorists".

"We would like to state that the Nigerian military would not be deterred in its determined efforts of defeating Boko Haram terrorists in the shortest possible time," the army spokesman said.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered military chiefs of the West African country to crush the terror group latest by December. Endit