The Zamfara State Police Command on Monday said bandits kidnapped 50 people and killed four in Gora Namaye village, in the Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

However, residents faulted the police claim, saying 102 were abducted, while five persons were killed.

One of the indigenes, Malam Sule Gora, told our correspondent on the telephone that the bandits invaded the village around 1.30am on Monday and operated for over four hours.

He said, “The bandits, who rode motorcycles, surrounded the village and started to shoot indiscriminately.

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“I have never witnessed such thing in my life. The whole village was turned into a battle ground and gunshots rent the air.

“Everybody ran helter-skelter and that was how they kidnapped our people who were trying to leave the village, not knowing that, the bandits surrounded by entire village.”

The resident claimed that the bandits targeted a former Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Yahaya Gora, who was out of the village at the time of the attack.

But the state Police Public Relation Officer, Mohammed Shehu, said, “50 people were abducted. The police command has drafted security personnel in the area to rescue the victims.”