Nigeria has been in turmoil in the last few days and a dusk to dawn curfew has been instituted by the army in the northeast of the country after days of gun battles and explosions that have left more than 60 people dead.
Al Jazeera's Ahmed Idris, a producer, reporting from near the scene of the attack says the unknown attacker used an improvised explosion device after failing to gain access to the church.
A relief worker says at least 25 bodies were recovered and of those six have been mutilated and the 19 others were still intact.
"I am standing near a huge crater left in the road. The damage to structures and buildings can be seen from 150m away. The church and surrounding shops and homes were also damaged.
"At least eight cars and two motorcycles were burnt beyond recognition."