At least five people are dead after a suicide bomber struck in Gamboru market on Friday, reports from the town of Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria said according to VOA.

A reporter with VOA quoted witnesses to Friday's bombing as saying a number of people were injured as well. Although no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, VOA says the region is a hotbed of Boko Haram activity. Boko Haram has carried out a string of such assaults in the area that have killed hundreds in recent weeks.

Just yesterday (Thursday) Nigeria's army said it rescued 59 women, children, and old men being held hostage by Boko Haram Islamic militants, according to VOA who quoted  army officials as saying soldiers raided Boko Haram hideouts near Maiduguri.

The officials  reportedly said many of the terrorists were killed and a number of weapons and vehicles seized.

Army spokesman Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman told VOA, "Whenever there is success of this nature, it goes a long way in boosting the morale of not just the fighting forces, but the overall Nigerian population."

The rescued hostages include five elderly men along with 54 women and children.Some of the freed captives told reporters that the terrorists gave them little food and constantly threatened to kill them.

Boko Haram militants frequently raid villages and kidnap residents, forcing them to convert to Islam.