The Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police were on Wednesday engaged in a gun battle in Geidam local government area of Yobe State.

Channels Television reports that residents of Geidam town said “sporadic and prolonged gun duel between the two Nigeria forces caused “pandemonium” in the town.

Witnesses said soldiers and policemen engaged themselves in a serious gun battle as sounds of both small and heavy weapons were heard across town with much concentration around the Mai Idris Aloma Polytechnic, which is situated between the military base and the Geidam Police station.

George Okupe, spokesman of the 27th Task Force Brigade in Yobe State, and the State Police Public Relations Officer, Samaila Solomon, both confirmed the clash saying it was as a result of little misunderstanding between both parties.

The officers would not give further details on the misunderstanding but only said the situation has been brought under control.

On the level of casualties and destruction as a result of the gun duel, they said it was too early to assess the extent of damage but details will be given as they unfold.

The clash between security forces is the first since the commencement of the Boko Haram insurgency in Yobe State.

But there had been incidents of clashes between Army and Police personnel in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The latest of such clashes occurred on June 23 as a quarrel over the sharing of food items for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, at the Government House in Maiduguri led to a shootout that resulted in a policeman being shot in the leg.