(Reuters) - A powerful explosion shook a church in a densely populated part of the Nigerian capital Abuja on Sunday, witnesses said.

A witness on a local radio station calling himself Paul said he was inside St Theresa's Church in the Madala district when a bomb went off in the middle of the church.

Another witness, Rose Adoga, who lives nearby told Reuters by telephone there was a huge explosion from the direction of the church. She added that "the blast destroyed the windows of my home." There were no further details immediately available.