A suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Tudun Wada, Gombe, capital of Gombe state, killing an unspecified number of people Vanguard reports.
A security source who confirmed the blast to TheCable said it occurred some minutes before 9am, while members of the church were at a service to herald the New Year.
"The suicide bomber was targeting the church. But thankfully, it was impossible to access the main building. The bomb was detonated at the gate," a member of the church told TheCable on phone.
He could also not confirm how many people had been killed or wounded, but he played down the casualty toll, saying: "It would have been worse if the main church building was hit. Thank God it only happened at the gate."
DSP Fwaje Atajiri, the Spokesman of the state Police Command, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Gombe that a suicide bomber rode on a motorcycle and tried to enter the church a few minutes after 8 a.m.
"He came with a motorcycle and tried to enter the place but as a result of the security measures put in place, he was blocked and the bomb exploded instantly and he was killed," Atajiri said.
He called on the public to remain vigilant and also report any suspicious movement around them.
An eye witness, Malam Aminu Muhammad, whose house is close to the blast scene, told NAN that he was indoors when he heard a loud sound.
"When I heard the sound, I immediately came out, and what I saw was horrible.
"I just saw human parts scattered everywhere with blood and pieces of motorcycle which the suicide bomber rode on," Muhammad said.
The Secretary, Gombe Specialist Hospital,Malam Abdullahi Isah, said 10 injured persons were brought to the hospital.
According to him, the victims sustained various injuries and were undergoing a treatment, adding that one of them was taken to the theatre.
Meanwhile a female suicide bomber wearing an explosives belt was killed in Kano as she tried to enter a military barracks December 31.
