Gunmen have invaded the low-cost housing estate in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, kidnapping many women, including a pregnant woman and minors.
Sources told DAILY NIGERIAN that the gunmen invaded the community around 9:30pm on Sunday and began shooting sporadically.
“They operated for about four hours before security operatives arrived at the community,” it was gathered.
The source told our correspondent that the gunmen entered house after house in search of people to kidnap.
“Unfortunately, most of the men were either out for Tarawi prayers or had not come back from work. They then decided to herd away women and young children,” the source disclosed.
It was also gathered the gunmen, numbered about 70, came on motorcycles and Kekenapep tricycles and encircled the community.
“They shot four persons. The victims are now receiving medical attention at Gambo Sawaba General Hospital,” the source added.
It was also gathered that three of the gunmen have been arrested.
The spokesperson of Kaduna State Police Command, Mohammed Jalige, confirmed the attack, saying however that only four persons were kidnapped.
Mr Jalige added that the police are on the trail of the gunmen, vowing to rescue all the victims alive.
Meanwhile, a husband to one of the kidnapped housewives, Haruna Sani, told newsmen that he received a phone call around 10.00p.m on Sunday that kidnappers had raided his house.
Mr Sani said he alerted the police who responded immediately and exchanged gunfire for about 25 minutes with the kidnappers.
He, however, said that some of the kidnappers took away his wife, that of his neighbor, and her three children.
He added that the three children were subsequently rescued.
He explained that the kidnappers, who dressed in women’s outfits, left behind braziers and hijab in his neighbor’s house as they fled.
Mr. Sani also said that four residents were wounded when the kidnappers shot at his daughter who ran out of the house to escape.
Another eyewitness, Muhammadu Buhari said three of those shot were his students while the fourth victim was his neighbor.
He gave the names of those injured as Mus’ab Isa, Aliyu Abdullahi, Hassan Danbuga, and Umar Saidu.
“They are all in stable condition after receiving treatment at a hospital,” Mr Buhari said.
