ABUJA, Nigeria, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- The militant Boko Haram claimed responsibility for multiple bombings, including military installations and a bridge, in northern Nigeria.
Abul Qaqa, a Boko Haram spokesman, said the attacks Tuesday were in retaliation for the arrest of one of the organization's leaders the day before, Vanguard reported Wednesday.
Witnesses said one blast occurred at a bridge near Kano, two occurred at a military base and that multiple explosions were heard at a market in Maiduguri, as well as a police station in Kano.
The Nigerian army confirmed its compound was attacked by two suicide bombers Tuesday. The army spokesman said the bombers in one of the vehicles died but no soldiers were injured.
"The drivers of the two vehicles overran the security post and the lawn leading to the headquarters complex," Lt. Col. Abubakar Edun, a spokesman, said.
Explosives in the second vehicle didn't detonate and soldiers recovered several bombs, Edun said.
While army officials said only the bombers were killed, an unconfirmed report indicated three other people died, the Nigerian publication The Guardian reported.
Boko Haram wants Shariah, the Islamic legal code, adopted in Nigeria, home to large Muslim and Christian populations.
