Multiple blasts hit Maiduguri, the Borno State capital early Friday as suspected female suicide bombers struck around a petrol depot belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC along Damboa road in the city metropolis.

The incident was confirmed by the Force Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, Victor Isuku, during an interview with journalists, though he said he would provide details later.

“Our men are still working at the scene of the blasts,” Isuku said

However, an eyewitness, Abubakar Kaumi, said that the blast occurred around 3 a.m. on Friday and was carried out by “a woman suspected to be a suicide bomber … alongside two (other) girls.”

“They detonated their explosives near some petrol tankers parked there, and destroyed the three vehicles,” he said.

“Gladly, nobody was closed by, so, only the three bombers died.”

Also, an official of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Abdul Ibrahim, confirmed the attack.

He said: “Three suspected suicide bombers detonated their explosives along Damboa road, Maiduguri, in the early hours of Friday, destroying three petrol tankers parked near the NNPC depot.”

He added however that the fire caused by the explosion had since been brought under control and that rescue efforts were ongoing.