At least four soldiers were killed in a blast at a military checkpoint in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, on Thursday, residents said, in the latest in a spate of attacks on the city in the last week.

Two local residents, who asked not to be identified, said a truck carrying firewood exploded near the gates of the Maimalari Barracks. "At least four soldiers were killed and several injured," said one, describing it as a suicide attack.