ABUJA (AFP) - A bomb exploded in a crowded shopping centre in Nigeria's capital Abuja on Wednesday, killing at least 21 people and wounding 17, police and the government said.

"The casualty figure for now is 21 persons dead, 17 injured," national police spokesman Frank Mba said, adding that an arrest had been made.

Senior government spokesman Mike Omeri confirmed that the blast was the result of "a bomb attack".