Dozens killed in violence in Kano, northern Nigeria

The city erupted in chaos on Friday night, with some 20 explosions heard and gunfire ringing out as eight police and immigration offices or residences were targeted.

A diplomatic source says there was at least one suicide bomb attack

It was not immediately clear who was behind the violence, though previous such attacks in Nigeria's north have been blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram.

Dossier: Sharia wars - Boko Haram v the military in northern Nigeria

The group has carried out a number of increasingly sophisticated attacks over the past few months in different areas of the country.

Violence on Christmas day killed at least 37 people and the group has threatened to carry out a ‘hunt for Christians’.

Before Friday’s violence, Kano, which has a muslim-majority population of 15 million, had not been targetted.

The city is now under curfew.