Boko Haram attack on Nigeria’s Maiduguri city kills 11

Security sources say that Boko Haram insurgents have attacked the outskirts of Borno state capital Maiduguri in Nigeria, leaving at least 11 people dead.

The attack occurred barely a day after the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who swore to crush the Islamist militant group and move the command center for military operations away from the capital Abuja to Maiduguri.

Gunshots from high-caliber weapons could be heard between about 1 a.m. and 2:20 a.m. (8 p.m. -9.20 p.m. EDT) from the southwestern part of the city. Reuters reported.

A military source said the shooting took place around the Damboa road near the small settlement of Mule, about 10 km (6 miles) from Maiduguri, a city of two million people.

This attack comes after twin bomb blasts early on Friday in Tashan Alade, remote Borno town where at least seven people were killed.

Thousands have been killed and about 1.5 million displaced during Boko Haram’s six-year-old insurgency  in Nigeria,.

Nigeria is Africa’s biggest economy and top oil producer.

The United States and Britain said on Friday they were ready to increase military cooperation with Nigeria to defeat Boko Haram.