DHAKA: A bombing at a football pitch in Nigeria's restive northeast killed at least 40 people on Sunday.

A police officer and a nurse said, Times of India publishes this report on Monday.

The blast hit the town of Mubi in Adamawa state which has been under a state of emergency for more than a year as Nigeria's military has tried to crush Boko Haram’s five-year extremist uprising.

‘There has been a bomb explosion at a football field this evening and so far more than 40 people have been killed,’ said the officer in Mubi requesting anonymity.

The policeman’s account was confirmed by a nurse at the Mubi General Hospital, who also requested anonymity, as the health worker was not authorized to discuss the attack with the media.

Mubi is just a few kilometers from Nigeria's border with Cameroon.

The policeman in Mubi said the bomb exploded at roughly 6:30pm (1730 GMT) at the pitch in Mubi's Kabang area and targeted fans who were trying to leave the field after watching a local club match.

It was not immediately clear if players were among the casualties, but the officer and the nurse said it appeared most of the victims were fans.

BDST: 1702 HRS, June 2, 2014