Suicide car bomber kills 8 soldiers at checkpoint in latest attack in Nigerian city

Witnesses in Nigeria say a suicide car bomber killed eight soldiers at a checkpoint outside a military barracks in the latest of daily attacks blamed on Boko Haram in a northeastern city.

More than 60 people have been killed in bombings and rocket-propelled grenades since new president, Muhammadu Buhari, announced Friday he is moving the headquarters for the war on the Islamic extremists to the group's birthplace in Maiduguri.

A fighter with a civilian defense group, Bashir Malam, said the bomber exploded the car Thursday as soldiers were checking it outside Brigadier Maimalari Barracks on bustling Baga Road during the evening rush hour.

Malam counted the bodies of eight soldiers.

It comes as Buhari is in neighboring Chad garnering more support for a multinational force to crush Nigeria's home-grown insurgency.