Twin suicide blasts in Nigeria leaves 31 dead

Two suicide bombers have attacked a town in north-eastern Nigeria only hours after the country's army chief urged displaced residents to return home because it was safe.

The suicide attack, carried out by two female bombers, took place in the town of Damboa in Borno state on Saturday evening and residents say at least 31 people died.

The explosions were followed up by rockets fired from outside the town.

Boko Haram militants are suspected as they use suicide bombers, often young girls, to target civilians and soldiers.

Army chief Lt Gen Tukur Buratai had said they were no longer a threat.

"Let me use this opportunity to call on the good people of northern Borno to return to their communities which have long been liberated by our gallant troops," he said at an inauguration ceremony for gunboats earlier on Saturday.

A four-month military operation started on 1 May to expel Boko Haram insurgents from northern Borno and the Lake Chad region.

More than 40 people were injured in the attacks out of which 12 of the injured remain in “very critical condition”, according to the locals.

The blasts came a day after Nigeria celebrated Eid-al-fitr marking the end of Muslim fasting month Ramadan.