Nigeria, March 17 -- The Nigerian Army has confirmed a series of bomb explosions in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Monday evening, describing the attacks as coordinated attempts by suspected Boko Haram terrorists to cause mass casualties and panic.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Sani Uba, the spokesperson for the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, the army said the explosions occurred at about 7:05 p.m. in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council during the Iftar period.

According to the statement, the attackers detonated improvised explosive devices at three busy locations within the city - the Post Office area, the Monday Market axis and the entrance to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. ...