The Nigerian city of Maiduguri was rocked by four suicide bombings Saturday, leaving 54 dead and 143 wounded.
The attacks, believed to have been carried out by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram, took place all over the northeastern Nigerian city. The city is located in the epicenter of fighting between government forces and the Islamic rebels, The Associated Press reports. It is also the birthplace of Boko Haram.
The deadliest blast came in the form of a suicide bomber blowing himself up in a tricycle taxi in front of a busy fish market, killing 18 people.
“I saw many dead bodies lying on the ground, many dead, and several others badly injured,” an eyewitness told the AP.
A fifth bombing in the area took place 50 miles outside of Maiduguri at a government checkpoint. That attack resulted in no fatalities, but wounded three individuals.
Boko Haram has recently increased its use of suicide bombings in the wake of successful military campaigns by a multinational force to drive the group out of its strongholds in northern Nigeria. According to the AP, the Islamic militants are currently preparing for a major showdown with the multinational army at its headquarters in Gwoza.
The Islamic revolt plaguing Nigeria has dragged on for six years and has left over 12,000 people dead.