Female suicide bombers kill at least nine in twin attacks in Nigeria

The Nigerian city of Maiduguri has been hit by a double suicide attack. Credit: Reuters

Two female suicide bombers have killed at least nine people in a double attack in Nigeria.

No group has claimed responsibility, but Islamic extremest group Boko Haram are thought to be behind the attack in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri.

In one attack a woman blew herself up in front of the Bakasi camp for refugees on Maiduguri's outskirts, killing five men and wounding 11 women, the army said.

A second attack happened about half an hour later opposite a fuel depot, killing three people.

Inuwe Sula, who lives nearby, said he saw six bodies outside Bakassi refugee camp and several wounded survivors "drenched with blood".

Boko Haram has stepped up attacks after a months-long lull caused by a leadership struggle in the organisation affiliated with so-called Islamic State.

Nigeria's home-grown insurgency has killed more than 20,000 people, spread across borders and forced some 2.6 million people from their homes.