"A number of gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram attacked Dutsen Tanshi police station," police spokesman Mohammed Barau told AFP of the attack in the city of Bauchi, referring to an Islamist sect that launched a 2009 uprising.

"They threw explosives into the police station which detonated and fired several shots before fleeing."

The attack occurred on Friday evening, he said.

Sect members attacked the same police station in 2009 as they launched an uprising that was later put down by a brutal military assault which left hundreds dead. The sect has been blamed for dozens of killings and attacks in recent months.

Nigeria votes for a new parliament on Saturday in the first of three landmark elections this month.