Gunmen suspected to be bandits on Friday invaded Rini town in the Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara State and abducted over 70 persons.

It was learnt that the gunmen arrived in the town at about 2.30am and shot indiscriminately.

A source who sought anonymity for security reasons said though the residents refused to come out of their homes despite heavy gunshots, the bandits succeeded in abducting over 70 persons in the town.

“When they came, they carried out the attacks in three strategic locations. First, at Sabon Gari, then they moved to Makarantar Boko and later the central part of Rini town,“ said the source.

READ ALSO Nine killed as bandits clash over ransom

The source maintained that the security agents did not go to the town despite repeated calls by the members of the community, adding that two Hilux vehicles, conveying soldiers later came to the town and left after spending some hours.

The spokesperson for the Zamfara Police Command, SP Shehu Muhammad, confirmed the incident but gave the number of those abducted as 60.

Muhammad said the police command had deployed adequate tactical personnel to rescue the kidnapped victims.