Gunmen kidnap dozens of residents in northwest Nigerian town during night raids

By Olarewaju Kola

ABUJA, Nigeria (AA) - Dozens of residents were abducted by gunmen during night raids on a sprawling community in Nigeria's northwest Kaduna State, witnesses said Tuesday.

Abubakar Usman, 61, of Kaduna told Anadolu Agency that shooting gunmen stormed the Keke community of Millennium City, Chikun local government, late Monday.

"It was raining heavily and many people didn't know the bandits were around. The bandits kidnapped over 30 people in the community," he said.

Bala Saliu, a relative of one of the abducted residents, said the attackers forced their way into homes.

The families have not been able to establish contact with missing relatives, he added.

The Kaduna State government and police have not issued a statement about the kidnappings.

Terror and bandit attacks have been on the increase in Nigeria since January.

The development has prompted the national legislature to ask the president to organize a security summit to proffer a solution to the situation.