GLOBAL ECONOMY

Bomb blasts at Nigeria's Maiduguri University kill 5

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Nigeria troops, rear, provide security at the area where a bomb exploded in Nigeria's northeastern University of Maiduguri at Maiduguri, Nigeria, Monday, Jan. 16, 2016. Two bombs exploded at dawn Monday at the university. (AP Photo/Jossy Ola) (The Associated Press)

Broken glasses and other materials are scattered on the floor of a room in a building where a bomb exploded at Nigeria's northeastern University of Maiduguri in Maiduguri, Nigeria, Monday, Jan. 16, 2016. Two bombs exploded at dawn Monday at the university. (AP Photo/Jossy Ola) (The Associated Press)

Two men inspect the area where a bomb exploded at Nigeria's northeastern University of Maiduguri in Maiduguri, Nigeria, Monday, Jan. 16, 2016. Two bombs exploded at dawn Monday at the university. (AP Photo/Jossy Ola) (The Associated Press)

Witnesses say two bombs have exploded at Nigeria's northeastern University of Maiduguri, killing five people.

One student said the first blast ripped through the mosque where professors were saying dawn prayers and many are feared among the victims. A university worker said the second bomb went off at an entrance gate. Both spoke on condition of anonymity for their safety.

Police spokesman Victor Isuku confirmed Monday's explosions but said rescuers are still ferrying the wounded to hospitals and evacuating bodies, making it difficult to give a toll.

Maiduguri has been attacked many times but this is the first attack on the university blamed on Boko Haram — the Islamic extremist group whose name means "Western education is sinful."

The 7-year-old Islamic uprising has killed more than 20,000 people.