KANO, Nigeria, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Multiple explosions and sporadic gunshots on Saturday morning rocked Hotoro area of northwest Nigeria's Kano State, according to local sources.
Mallam Audu Garba, a resident in the area told Xinhua that sporadic gunshots were still being heard in the area, sequel to more than three explosions.
"Even people that are 10 kilometers away can hear the gunshots. Many residents and business owners here sense serious danger because the gunshots and explosions are still being heard," he said, expressing fears that a high number of casualties might be recorded.
A police source in the area also told Xinhua that a gun battle was ongoing between some bandits and security operatives who tried to repel the attack.
"Until the situation here is calm, no one can say anything about the number of casualties," the source added.
Hotoro, mostly populated by Muslims, is also an area where Christians from the southern part of Nigeria reside in the northern state.
At least four people were killed in the Ring Road area of Hotoro in Kano State on May 6, 2012, when members of the military Joint Task Force repelled an attack by insurgents.
The Saturday morning explosions and shootings occurred barely six days after a motor park explosion killed 22 people and injured 65 others on Monday, according to police authorities in the northwestern state.
