UPDATE: Atleast 15 people killed in Maiduguri blast

Maiduguri - A truck exploded in a huge fireball killing at least 15 people on Tuesday in the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the latest attack in a city repeatedly hit by Boko Haram.

The bomb rocked Maiduguri's largest roundabout near the crowded Monday Market where elderly women line the road selling peanuts and kola nuts as snacks to morning commuters.

The defence ministry said in a tweet that an "improvised explosive device" went off in "a van loaded with charcoal" and that the area had been cordoned off.

Unruly crowds tried to attack firefighters deployed to the scene, accusing of them of arriving too slowly and hindering their efforts to put out the raging blaze, an AFP photographer said.

UPDATES: Body of Emir of Gwoza recovered – DHQ

The Nigeria's Military Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Friday said the body of Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idris Timta, who died when Boko Haram gunmen attacked a convoy of three emirs had been recovered. The gunmen attacked the convoy of emirs of Gwoza, Uba and Askira who were travelling to Gombe for the funeral of the late Emir of Gombe.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information. The statement said that troops deployed in Garkida responded to the attack and the emirs of Uba and Askira were secured.

It said that troops were currently on patrol along the entire route with a view to apprehending the perpetrators and keeping the area safe. According to the statement, the troops of the Special Task Force (STF) operating in the North-Central part of the country have led to the arrest of 23 members of armed gangs terrorising the area.

How Boko Haram Kill an Emir and 19 others in Borno State

(AP) - Officials say suspected Islamic militants (Boko Haram) killed 20 people including a traditional ruler in northeast Nigeria in four attacks across the country in three days.

Monday's massive explosion killed 175 people in Abuja, the capital, and on Tuesday gunmen kidnapped about 100 female students in the northeast.

Politician Hyeldi Bwala says gunmen marched into the palace of the emir of Gwoza on Tuesday evening and gunned him down along with his security guard.

Just last week the emir had appealed to the government to "save our souls," saying his people were being attacked daily.

Two officials say gunmen on Wednesday morning attacked a village in Gwoza district and killed 18 people.

The attacks strengthen doubts about the ability of Nigeria's military to contain the 5-year-old Islamic uprising.

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