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Three blasts have struck the north-eastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the army says.

A spokesman blamed the Islamist militant group Boko Haram for the attack. The group was founded in Maiduguri.

Unconfirmed reports say as many as eight people may have died from the blasts.

Boko Haram attacks have spiked in recent months after it was driven from territory it held.

The blasts in Maiduguri reflected the "high level of desperation" in Boko Haram, spokesman Sani Usman said in a statement.

The group wants to establish Islamic rule in the north-east. Two million people have been forced from their homes since the militants launched their insurgency in 2009.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari made combating the group a key campaign pledge as he sought election this year.