Armed bandits have killed seven members of a local security outfit and abducted an unspecified number of residents in a midnight attack on Kaura Namoda town in Zamfara State.
The attackers reportedly operated for more than three hours after entering the town through a riverine route around midnight on Friday, engaging local vigilantes in a prolonged gun battle.
Chairman of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, Munnir Haidara, confirmed the killing of seven members of the Joint Task Force (JTF).
Haidara said the attackers struck two locations, including the Kofar Zurmi and Old Market areas, during the assault.
The number of residents abducted was not immediately established, while details of the attack and the extent of damage remained unclear.
The killing of the vigilantes highlights the continuing dangers faced by local security groups involved in efforts to protect communities from armed bandits in Zamfara, one of the states worst affected by kidnappings and violent attacks in north-western Nigeria.
The latest incident adds to growing security concerns in the region, where armed groups have continued to target rural communities, kill residents and abduct people for ransom.
Further details on the victims, the whereabouts of the abducted residents and the response of security agencies were not immediately available.
