Gombe State police chief Arube Ghadi Abekunle said Sunday that the blast happened just before dawn in the town of Kwami just north of the state capital of Gombe, but declined to immediately comment on casualties.

Abekunle said the base had been evacuated because there was at least one bomb that had not yet been detonated.

An AP reporter at the scene said there were about 10 burning cars in the base after the blast set ablaze its armory and administrative section.