22 people killed after two female suicide bombers target Nigerian mosque

The incident bore all the hallmarks of Boko Haram Islamists group, who have regularly used the service of female suicide bombers to attack “soft” civilian targets such as mosques, markets and bus stations.

Borno State Emergency Management Agency spokesman Abdullahi Omar and army spokesman Sani Usman confirmed the blast.

“Sadly, 22 people were killed and 35 others sustained various degrees of injuries,” Mr Usman said in a statement.

A source at the agency added: “This morning just before dawn prayers that two women disguised as men approached the mosque.

“One of them went in and joined the first row of the congregation and when the worshippers stood up for the prayers she detonated her explosives, killing several worshippers.

“While the others were trying to flee, the second woman who stood outside the mosque rushed in and set off her explosives in their midst.”

The source, who asked for anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media, said survivors of the attack and evidence from the rescue operation identified the bombers as women.

Maiduguri, where Boko Haram was formed in 2002, has been relatively calm in recent months as a result of heavy security and a sustained counter-offensive against the militants last year.

Although, Nigerian authorities said the rebels have been “technically” defeated, despite continued attacks in Borno state and neighbouring Cameroon, with over 17,000 deaths since 2009,