Boko Haram jihadists attacked Nigeria's city of Maiduguri in the volatile northeast killing 16 people, including nine children who were playing football in a field.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that officials said previously 10 people were killed and 47 were injured in Tuesday's attack when jihadists fired rocket-propelled grenades on the densely-populated city.

Boko Haram has previously made incursions into Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, using heavy guns and suicide bombers.

"The death toll has risen to 16," Babakura Kolo, the leader of a self-defence militia, told AFP.