Two women blow up Nigerian mosque

Nigerian officials say two female suicide bombers have killed at least 22 worshippers in an attack on a mosque on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram.

Abdul Mohammed of the State Emergency Management Agency says another 17 people were wounded in the explosions early on Wednesday.

Witnesses say one bomber blew up inside the mosque and the second outside as survivors tried to flee.

The mosque is on the outskirts of the city that is now the command centre of the Nigerian military's war against Boko Haram Islamic insurgents.

Several suicide bombers have exploded in recent months at roadblocks into the city manned by the military and vigilantes.