Three people, including a policeman, were shot dead in two separate attacks in Kano, officials have said.

The state’s police spokesman, Rilwanu Dutse, confirmed the attacks and put the death toll at three lives lost.

“I can confirm that three people, including a police constable, were shot dead by four unknown gunmen riding on two motorcycles at an abandoned factory in Sharada industria area of Kano,” Dutse told the AFP.

The police spokesman said two of the victims were killed on the spot, while the third died at a hospital.

Dutse said the gunmen had driven to the factory at about 5:40 p.m. and shot their victims.

He assures that “police have deployed in the area in search of the hitmen”.

The police officials did not point fingers at any individuals or groups, but many believe the killings to be the work of the radical Boko Haram sect who have been known to stage drive by attacks targeting police officials in northern Nigeria’s largest city.