No fewer than 46 persons, including women and children, have been kidnapped in Gana town in Zamfara state.

According to residents of the community, the attack took place around 10pm on Sunday, January 5.

Though there is no official confirmation yet about the attack from the authorities, a traditional leader in the community, Alhaji Garba Haure, told Reuters that dozens of gunmen invaded the community on motorbikes unleashing a barrage of gunfire on the community and setting fire to several homes and businesses.

?We have 46 men, women and children that have been abducted altogether, and are still counting,? Haure said.

He said the quick intervention of government security forces prevented the assailants from setting the entire town ablaze, adding that no life was lost in the attack.

But another resident, Bala Harauma, told Reuters that the actual count of abducted people could be higher.

?Six people managed to escape while the armed gang moved the captives in the early hours of Monday,? Harauma said.

Another resident, Yusuf Mohammed, explained that the bandits set ablaze dozens of houses and silos containing foodstuffs. (The Nation)