DHAKA: A suicide bomber killed at least 23 people in a procession of Shia Muslims marking the ritual of Ashoura in northeast Nigeria’s Yobe state on Monday.

Witnesses said, reports The Straits Times.

The attacker joined the line of Shia before setting off his device as they marched through a market in the town of Potiskum, in a territory at the heart of an insurgency by Sunni Muslim Boko Haram rebels, resident Yusuf Abdullahi told the media.

‘I heard a very heavy explosion as if it happened in my room. It took place just 200 metres from my house,’ he said.

Another person carrying an explosive that did not go off was also arrested, he added.

Mohammed Gana, whose brother was killed in the attack, said he counted 23 bodies at the scene.

BDST: 2037 HRS, NOV 03, 2014