Suicide bombers in Nigerian city of Kano kill at least 14, wound over 100

The scene where two female suicide bombers blew themselves up at a mobile phone market is pictured in the northern Nigerian city of Kano November 18, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

KANO, Nigeria - Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up at a mobile phone market in the northern Nigerian city of Kano on Wednesday, killing at least 14 people and wounding more than 100 others, the country's emergency response agency said.

The explosions occurred around 4 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) at the Farm Centre phone market, near the centre of Nigeria's second biggest city, and come a day after a blast in the northeastern city of Yola killed 32 people and wounded 80 others.

The attacks bear the hallmarks of Boko Haram, suggesting that the militant Islamist group, which has killed thousands over the last six years in its bid to create a state in the northeast, is stepping up its operations.

"Over 100 persons injured and 14 others lost their lives in today's market bomb blast in Kano," said Sani Datti, a spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Suspected members of Boko Haram have killed more than 1,000 people since President Muhammadu Buhari took office in May.

"President Buhari reassures Nigerians that his administration is very much determined to wipe out Boko Haram in Nigeria and bring all perpetrators of this heinous crime against humanity to justice," said presidency spokesman Garba Shehu.

He said Buhari urged vigilance to help ward off suicide terror attacks on "soft targets", adding that Nigeria's "reinvigorated, well-equipped and well-motivated armed forces and security agencies" would overcome Boko Haram very soon.