Witnesses and security officials confirmed that the assailants have bombed a police outpost and station in the restive Kano and Damaturu cities.

One eyewitness, Salisu Ado, who lives close to a police outpost in the turbulent Yobe state capital city of Damaturu told the Associated Press that the blast occurred at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Yobe state police chief Patrick Egbuniwe said security forces had engaged the gunmen, but did not say if anyone was hurt or had been targeted in the attacks.

Some 40 people were killed in Damaturu last week in a slew of attacks blamed on the Islamist Boko Haram sect. The AP reports that 13 targets were hit. It was here that Habibu Bama, the alleged Boko Haram mastermind behind the bombing of the UN Nigerian HQ, was shot. He later died from those gunshot wounds and was hailed by the Boko Haram sect as a martyr.

Meanwhile, sources revealed that suspected gunmen also attacked the Dala Divisional Police Station in Goron Dutse, Kano.

Explosions followed by sporadic gunshots were heard in northern Nigeria’s largest city at about 7:10 p.m. on Tuesday night.

Casualties have not been confirmed, but sources speaking to Thisday newspaper said they could spot bodies of both policemen and some civilians around the Dala Police station.

The damage to the police station was not extensive as the bomb did not hit the main building. Policemen on duty were able to quickly repel the attacks.

“We heard multiple explosions followed by sporadic gunshots, when we are preparing for Isha’i prayer in a nearby mosque,” a resident said.

Joint Task Force operatives have been deployed to the area and were earlier seen evacuating areas hit hardest in the attacks.