At least 24 towers have been attacked across Nigeria's north, likely causing damage worth millions of dollars, says an association of mobile phone companies.

The chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, said Thursday that, over the last 24 hours, nine members have reported infrastructural damage.

An Associated Press reporter said he saw at least nine masts burned down in the northeastern city of Maiduguri. The news was echoed by other AP reporters in other parts of the north who reported they saw 10 other damaged masts.

Army spokesperson Sagir Musa put the blame on radical Islamist group known as Boko Haram. Months ago the group threatened to target phone companies for collaborating with authorities.

Accordign to experts, a tower costs about 450,000 US dollars (357,500 Euros) and with antennas, generators and transmission equipment, the cost of a single tower can exceed one million US dollars(794,920 Euros)

Source: AP