Heavy bombings and gunshots have been reported in Damaturu, capital of Yobe State in Nigeria’s troubled North-East. They started at about 8.30pm last night and continued towards midnight, according to a report in the Abuja-based Peoples Daily.

“Residents who scampered into their houses shortly after the attacks started said that sounds of heavy gunshots have been heard in various parts of the city, but could not specify the directions from which the shots were being fired,” the paper said.

Its correspondent in Damaturu spoke about “a real gun battle” presumably between operatives of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) and Boko Haram militants.

The paper said that when contacted at about 10.30pm last night, the spokesman of the JTF in Yobe State, Captain Eli Lazarus retorted: “I’m not in a position to say anything to you now because we’re undergoing a very serious operation.”

•Photo shows Nigerian troops searching for Boko Haram insurgents.