Scores killed in double suicide attack on Nigeria market

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, the blasts bore all the hallmarks of Boko Haram, which regularly uses women and young girls to carry out suicide attacks in its seven-year insurgent campaign in the troubled region.

"At least 30 people have been killed in the suicide blasts carried out by two female suicide bombers in the market," military spokesman Badare Akintoye told AFP.

"Several people have been injured in the attack," said Akintoye by phone from a military base in the town of Mubi, 100 kilometres away.

A local government official and the National Emergency Management Agency [NEMA] confirmed the attack.

"The two bombers who (were) disguised as customers, detonated their suicide belts at the section of the market selling grains and second-hand clothing," said Yusuf Muhammad, the chairman of Madagali local government.

"We still don't have the exact number of those injured but they are many."

The attack on Madagali, which was recaptured by Nigerian forces from Boko Haram extremists in 2015, was the third time the town has been targeted since December last year when two female suicide bombers killed scores.

Market trader Habu Ahmad said Friday's blasts happened around 9:30 am.

"It was dead bodies and wounded people in the midst of blood, spilt grain and abandoned personal effects," he said.

Ibrahim Abdulkadir, NEMA spokesman for the northeast, said rescue teams had been deployed to the scene.

"We heard there was a twin-blast in a market at Madagali this morning. Our men are on (the) ground evacuating the victims," he told AFP.

He said security agents had cordoned off the scene of the explosions.