A suicide bomber, on New Year's day blew himself up outside a church in northeast Nigeria, leading to several injuries, according to a rescue worker.

"There was an explosion outside the ECWA church this morning. A suicide bomber who was restrained from getting into the church blew himself up," Vanguard quoted Abubakar Yakubu, who heads the Nigeria Red Cross in Gombe, as saying.

"Luckily no one was killed but some people were mildly injured."

A witness also told the news platform that a man arrived during the church service. "He insisted on riding through the barrier," said Dahiru Badamasi.

"It was while he was arguing with the volunteers that his suicide belt exploded."

Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, it is believed to be caused by terror group Boko Haram, which has been responsible for series of attacks in Nigeria's northeast.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the insurgency which began in 2009.