Maiduguri, a city that was the birthplace of Boko Haram and is now the home base of government forces trying to crush the Islamic extremists, has been hit by a series of bombings, exacting a terrible toll among civilians.

The attack on Friday – described by civilian defense fighters, the National Emergency Management Agency and witnesses – came just hours after two bombs exploded near a mosque, killing at least 30 people.

The wounded from that attack were taken to a hospital.

Islamic law

Twenty people were injured in that attack, some critically, said the emergency agency’s northeast Nigeria co-ordinator, Muhammed Kanar.

The military and troops from neighbouring countries have pushed the extremists from strongholds this year but the suicide bomb attacks by Boko Haram have continued.

Nigeria’s army chief indicated a major offensive is imminent. An offensive by a multinational force with troops from Nigeria and its neighbours has been long delayed by funding issues and other disputes.

Boko Haram wants to enforce extreme interpretation of Islamic law across Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer with a population of about 170 million split almost equally between Christians and Muslims.