By Olarewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria

 At least eight people were feared killed on Sunday after two suspected female bombers attacked a market in Potiskum, a local government area in Nigeria's northern Yobe State, locals have said.

"Updates from our medical team that joined the rescue operations indicate that eight people died, including the two female bombers," Mustapha Potiskum, a local Shiite leader, told The Anadolu Agency by phone.

He said the blasts occurred near a market where communication gadgets are sold.

Mohammed Fada, another resident, was near the market when the blast occurred.

"Two ladies carrying explosive devices came into the market at about 3.40pm," he told AA. "One of the ladies came down from the tricycle and went into the market."

"Some minutes later, the lady exploded with the improvised explosive devices on her body," said Fada.

"The second blast occurred immediately after with the lady in another vehicle," he added.

Bala Mamman, a resident of the area, said he had personally seen five corpses being taken to hospital in an open-back van.

A source at the Potiskum General Hospital said five bodies have been deposited at the morgue, while 46 wounded were being treated.

A security source said two female bombers had been seen by residents when arriving to the market, located near a primary school.

He said the two bombers, the tricycle rider and other people were killed in the twin blasts, falling short of giving an exact death toll.

The blasts came a day after a Boko Haram attack was repelled by Nigerian forces in Damaturu, Yobe's provincial capital, leaving several insurgents and locals were killed.

Damaturu was also attacked on December 1, 2014.

Boko Haram has repeatedly targeted the Yobe towns of Potiskum and Damaturu.

For the last five years, Nigeria has battled a fierce Boko Haram insurgency that has ravaged the country's volatile northeastern region.

A seemingly emboldened Boko Haram recently stepped up its militant activity even further, seizing several areas in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, where it has declared a self-styled "Islamic caliphate."