Multiple explosions and gunfire rocked the northern Nigerian city of Kano on Friday, but details were not immediately clear, an AFP correspondent reported.

An AFP journalist heard what sounded to be some 20 explosions coming from two neighbourhoods in the city, the largest in Nigeria's mainly Muslim north. Smoke could also been seen coming from the Marhaba and Gyadi-Gyadi neighbourhoods.

The explosions resulted in chaos in the city, with motorcycles and cars fleeing the areas. The amount of damage or casualties was not immediately clear.

Scores of bomb blasts in Nigeria's north have been blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram.