Unknown gunmen on Tuesday stormed a prison in northern Nigeria, local authorities said.

Gunmen targeted the federal prison in the Bauchi State where members of an extremist Muslim group were held. Authorities said the attack aimed to set free some of their members awaiting trial following the last year's religious crisis which claimed many lives and properties.

But they did not know who was responsible for the attack.

A local reporter told Xinhua over phone that an unknown number of people might have been killed in a shoot out battle between the extremist Muslim group Boko-Haram and security forces. Enditem

The fundamentalist stormed the prisons at about 6:30 p.m. local time immediately after the breaking of fast by Muslims and tried to force themselves into the prison. The move was resisted by a few armed prison guards. But their fire arms could not match that of the fundamentalists who were well armed and ready for the action, the reporter said.

Security sources who confirmed the incident to Xinhua said it was pandemonium scene as people around the Emir drive, Bakaro, Karofin Madaki, Kobi and Railways areas ran for cover from stray bullets.

Bauchi State Police Commissioner Danlami Yar' Adua confirmed the event to Xinhua over phone, adding that report reaching him indicated that the fundamentalists were shooting sporadically while their bullets are hitting innocent people.

"There was an attempt by suspected person to break into the Bauchi prisons and they were said to be armed, we have mobilized our armed Anti-riot Mobile Police men to the prison to ensure that the situation did not get out of hands," he told Xinhua.

"For now I cannot tell you whether there are casualties or not, but as soon as we have the details, you will be duly informed but let me assure you that the situation is under control as our men are battle ready to check the crisis," the police boss added.

Another local reporter told Xinhua said residents of Bauchi have deserted the streets while armed security men have taken over the patrol of the town to ensure that the crisis did not spread to other parts of the town while the state government has asked people to remain calm as the situation is under control and will not be allowed to spread.