Dozens feared killed in Nigeria suicide bomb attack

Dozens of people were feared killed Monday after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at a religious gathering in Potiskum area of Nigeria's northeastern state of Yobe, witnesses said.

What was believed to be a terror attack occurred amid a religious procession by a group known as Shia Muslim Brotherhood in the northeastern province, about 220 km from Maiduguri, capital of Borno state and stronghold of Boko Haram in Nigeria, Hussein Ibrahim, a witness, told Xinhua.

He noted that more than 30 people were feared dead as the procession venue was full to the brim at the time of the incident.

Yobe state police chief Markus Danladi also confirmed the incident, saying the suicide bomber was among the dead.

"The suicide bomber hid himself among the Shia group and detonated his explosive device, killing members of the group," he said while declining to give the official figure of casualties so far recorded.

Security forces immediately cordoned off the area to forestall further attacks, a senior military officer said.