Twin suicide bombings kill 13 in northeast Nigeria

By Olarewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) - At least 13 people were killed on Saturday in two suspected suicide bombings in Nigeria's northeast, police said.

Two female suicide bombers entered a marketplace in Biu, the third largest city in Borno State at 11.40 a.m. local time (1240GMT), police added.

Victor Isuku, police spokesman for Borno State, said the first bomb explosion occurred inside the market, while the second one happened outside the marketplace.

"A total of 13 persons excluding the two suicide bombers have been confirmed dead in the two explosions, while 53 others sustained various degrees of injuries," Isuku said in a statement.

The incident was the first in nearly a year and half of relative peace in the area. The last explosion occurred in May 2016.

Biu is about 187 kilometers (116.2 miles) south of Maiduguri, the provincial capital of Borno State.