Suspected Islamic extremists killed at least 54 people when they detonated explosive devices in crowded places Sunday night in Maiduguri the capital of the northeastern state of Borno, members of civilian defense group said Monday.

Forty-three people died in an attack on a mosque and 11 were killed in an attack on a market center, said the civilian defense force members, who insisted anonymity for fear of reprisals from the Nigerian military which has been deployed to guard civilians in the town.

There were four explosions in the attacks one in a Mosque after evening prayers, another at a market place and two homemade explosives were thrown into a business center where people charge their phones and play video games, said a member of the civilian militia. The blasts occurred within 20 minutes, he said.