Female suicide bombers kill 30 in suspected Boko Haram attack at Nigerian market

At least 30 people have been killed in twin bomb blasts at a market in northeastern Nigeria, the military has said. The twin bombings, blamed on Boko Haram terrorists, occurred in the town of Madagali, Adamawa state.

Two female suicide bombers detonated their explosives in a busy market, an army spokesman told AFP news agency.

Although no group has claimed responsibility, suspicion is likely to fall on Boko Haram, renowned for kidnapping civilians and forcing them to carry out suicide bombing missions in crowded areas.

Military offensive and hunger crisis

Boko Haram is renowned for setting entire villages alight, kidnapping thousands of people and using civilians as suicide bombers. Although the group originally carried out attacks in Nigeria, the conflict soon spilled over into neighbouring states Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, who vowed his administration would defeat Boko Haram – has repeatedly called for a global effort to tackle the humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad water basin, which comprises Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria.

In addition to its own military operation Lafiya Dole, Nigeria is now leading a regional offensive – consisting of 8,700 troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin – against Boko Haram.

The offensive has scored some successes, such as the recapture of key territories and the release of thousands of civilians held captive by the group.

Earlier this year, the UN warned at least 400,000 children in northeastern Nigeria alone are now at risk of starvation as a result of prolonged violence and displacement.

In December, the UN launched a $1 bn (£783m) funding appeal to help tackle what it defined as "the largest crisis on the African continent."

However, Buhari accused the UN and aid groups of exaggerating the extent of a hunger crisis in order to receive more funds.

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