Gunmen attacked a church in northern Nigeria on Christmas Eve, killing six people, including the pastor, and setting the building on fire, residents and police said Tuesday.

"A group of gunmen came into the village at midnight and went straight to the church... they opened fire on them, killing the pastor and five worshippers. They then set fire to the church," said Usman Mansir, resident of Peri village, near Potiskum, the economic capital of Yobe state. A senior police official in Yobe confirmed the details to AFP, but declined to be named.