Abuja, Oct 14 (IANS): At least seven people have been killed in three suicide blasts in Nigeria's restive Maiduguri city, the Nigerian army said on Wednesday.

Three suicide bombers late Tuesday hit three locations in Ajilari, a crowded area in the Maiduguri city, Nigerian army spokesman Sani Kukasheka Usman said. Eleven others were injured in the suicide attacks, Xinhua reported.

"The explosions occurred at an interval of three minutes," the spokesman said, adding the three suicide bombers were among those killed.

The Boko Haram militant group was blamed for the attacks.

The group, fighting the government to create an Islamic state, has carried out waves of bombings in the northern region and capital city of Nigeria over the years.

Last month, at least 54 people were killed when four bombers blew themselves up in Ajilari area of Maiduguri.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the military chiefs in Africa's most populous country to end the insurgency of Boko Haram by December.