A gun battle between police and armed robbers in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital in southern Nigeria have left seven people dead, including a policeman and three passersby.

"Three bandits were gunned down, while we lost a policeman. Three passersby were hit by stray bullets during the shootout with armed robbers in Uyo on Wednesday," Onyekachi Orji, a spokesman for Akwa Ibom state police said.

He said several robbers who suffered bullet wounds fled the scene of the shootout, but added that the police was on their trail.

He said more than 800 rounds of ammunitions and two vehicles were recovered from the robbers.