At least 156 people were killed in multiple bomb attacks and gunfire battles on Saturday afternoon in Kano, Nigeria’s second largest city.

A military official told CNN hospitals could not handle the number of injured and the severity of the wounds.

The official said he expected the toll to continue to rise.

The bombings took place at eight government sites, according to the report.

Journalists at the Daily Trust newspaper said Saturday that Islamist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks in a phone call to the newspaper’s offices.

The attacks follow more violence in late December, when bombings at churches in several cities on Christmas day killed dozens of people.

Government officials said Boko Haram also claimed for responsibility for those attacks.

The attacks on Friday hit police stations, immigration offices and the local headquarters of Nigeria’s secret police, according to the Associated Press.