More than 50 people, including pregnant women and children, were abducted in a raid on a village in northwest Nigeria, seven residents told Reuters.
The attack, began around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday night, on Wurma village in northwest Nigeria
According to the police, the number of those abducted was 15, but residents who spoke to Reuters said that many more were taken.
One of the residents, Alhaji Musa, whose two daughters were among those taken, said more than 100 bandits were “shooting from all angles.”
“They operated for about three hours with nobody to challenge them,” he said.
The attackers also took sheep, goats and food, they added.
In a statement, Katsina police said 15 women were abducted, but that 10 of them were freed unharmed following a gun battle with police.
“Search parties have been dispatched into the surrounding bushes with a view to rescue the others,” the police said.
Instability has roiled northwest Nigeria, including Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, all year. The government attributes the attacks to bandits, a term applied to outlaws who rob, kidnap and kill residents.
