Boko Haram has stepped up attacks in recent weeks
Nigerian troops backed by a fighter jet were said to be trying to drive the militants back.
Nigeria has postponed elections due to be held on Saturday amid concerns over the insurgency in the north-east.
Gombe - capital of Gombe State - has previously suffered suicide attacks but correspondents say this is the first time Boko Haram has launched a direct assault on the city.
Reports said militants first attacked the town of Dadin Kowa, about 40km (25 miles) from Gombe.
Ground troops with air support then battled to keep the insurgents from entering the city.
The BBC's Abullahi Kaura in Abuja says residents have fled into the bush and into nearby hills.
Boko Haram controls a swathe of territory in north-eastern Nigeria.
Its insurgency has become a regional crisis with the four affected countries - Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon -agreeing to form a regional military force to try to contain the threat.
In response, the insurgents have stepped up their attacks in Nigeria and neighbouring states.
It emerged on Friday that Boko Haram had attacked Chad for the first time, crossing Lake Chad in four motorboats and raiding a village overnight.
Houses were set ablaze in the attack on the Chadian village
Several residents were killed
Boko Haram militants carried out the attack after crossing Lake Chad by motorboat
Security sources and witness said five people were killed by
Boko Haram in the village of Ngouboua, including a local chief, a police
officer and three civilians. The Chadian military said two of the
attackers were also killed.
Some reports put the civilian death toll higher.
Boko Haram Islamist militants have attacked the north-east Nigerian city of Gombe, residents say.
Fighters overran a checkpoint on the edge of the city and explosions and gunfire could be heard, witnesses added.Nigerian troops backed by a fighter jet were said to be trying to drive the militants back.
Nigeria has postponed elections due to be held on Saturday amid concerns over the insurgency in the north-east.
Gombe - capital of Gombe State - has previously suffered suicide attacks but correspondents say this is the first time Boko Haram has launched a direct assault on the city.
Reports said militants first attacked the town of Dadin Kowa, about 40km (25 miles) from Gombe.
Ground troops with air support then battled to keep the insurgents from entering the city.
The BBC's Abullahi Kaura in Abuja says residents have fled into the bush and into nearby hills.
Its insurgency has become a regional crisis with the four affected countries - Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon -agreeing to form a regional military force to try to contain the threat.
In response, the insurgents have stepped up their attacks in Nigeria and neighbouring states.
It emerged on Friday that Boko Haram had attacked Chad for the first time, crossing Lake Chad in four motorboats and raiding a village overnight.
Houses were set ablaze in the attack on the Chadian village
Several residents were killed
Boko Haram militants carried out the attack after crossing Lake Chad by motorboat
Some reports put the civilian death toll higher.
