Six Nigerian suicide bombers were involved in Wednesday’s attack on the northeastern city of Maidguri, the capital of Borno state, a militia spokesman said.

"The attack on Wednesday was massive and the insurgents deployed female suicide bombers," Jubrin Gunda said by phone on Thursday from Maiduguri. The insurgents incurred "massive" casualties, he said.

Nigerian troops repelled the suspected Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri after exchanging gunfire with the Islamist militants for about an hour. The army imposed a 24-hour curfew on the city.