No fewer than nine persons have been killed by gunmen following an attack in a suburb of Iware community along Fufore/Jada road in Adamawa State.

Residents said the gunmen also abducted seven children during the attack which lasted for hours.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Some gunmen suspected to be kidnappers struck in our nearby village Tuesday night, killing a whole family of nine and later went away with seven children, and are now asking for ransom.”

According to him, Iware – where the incident occurred – is a Fulani new settlement near Beti Verre, between Fufore and Jada local government areas.

ASP Othman Abubakar, Police Spokesman in the state, said the police command was informed about the incident but was yet to get the full details.

He advised residents to monitor the movement of characters around their children and wards.

According to the PPRO, sometimes relations of kidnapped victims connive with the kidnap gang to abduct and extort money from the victim’s family.

He, however, revealed that there had been pockets of kidnapping in the area, mostly on the well-to-do or those with herds of cattle.

But the local vigilante explained that officials of the local governments were informed about the incident.

“We, the vigilantes, and other hunters have swung into action to track down the fleeing kidnappers,” they assured. (Independent)