Two blasts rocked crisis-hit northern Nigeria on Monday, with one bombing killing at least 20 people and a second explosion setting fire to a market, where heavy casualties were feared.

Two blasts rocked crisis-hit northern Nigeria on Monday, with one bombing killing at least 20 people and a second explosion setting fire to a market, where heavy casualties were feared.

The first bombing hit the Dukku motor park on the outskirts of Gombe city, capital of Gombe state, at roughly 10:50 am (0950 GMT), officials said.

State secretary for the Red Cross Abubakar Yakubu Gombe said his staff sent 20 body bags to the scene and "they have all been exhausted", adding that another 18 people with "serious" injuries had been taken to hospital.

The bomb had been planted near a bus that was waiting to fill up, officials said.

The second blast hit Bauchi city, the capital of Bauchi state, at roughly 5:00 pm (1600 GMT) but there was no confirmation that a bomb was responsible.

"There was an explosion in the market with a large number of women traders," said Adamu Abubakar of the Red Cross in Bauchi. "There are heavy casualties of course, but for now we can't do anything until the fire is put out."