BREAKING NEWS: BOMBS, GUNSHOTS ROCK DAMATURU, YOBE STATE, NIGERIA...AS ATTACKERS TARGET GOVERNMENT HOUSE 

Blasts and gunfire on Monday rocked the northeastern Nigerian city of Damaturu, which has previously been hit by heavy violence blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram, residents said.

"It all started about 20 minutes ago, and there have been bombings and shootings throughout the city," one resident said by phone. "Nobody knows what is going on. Everybody has moved indoors."

Another resident gave a similar account, while police could not be immediately reached for comment.

Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, has descended into chaos with explosions and gunshots, which began at the Sabon Pegi area of the city, rapidly spreads to other parts of the capital.

Residents of the city say they are panicked and grief stricken and have locked themselves up in their homes.

A witness, who is in contact with PREMIUM TIMES narrates with fear the terror that has been unleashed on the state capital.

“I wish you can hear the sound, God!!!, still shooting ooo, they are coming closer,” he panics. The witness, who does not want his name mentioned, said the JTF operatives appeared to have been overwhelmed by the attackers, suspected to be members of the extremist Boko Haram sect.

The men are few and have been overwhelmed by the number of the attackers, he said

Another witness said he had heard more than eleven blasts.

According to him, gunshots have been going on since 5 p.m.

The witness says that the attackers are attempting to take over the government house, adding there was also an explosion at the Potiskum Prison, also in the state.