A man, his wife and six children were among 18 residents abducted by armed bandits in Kaduna State in two attacks within a space of three hours.
Sources hinted Scudnews that the bandits stormed Baba Saura village off the Eastern Bypass at about 1.am on Wednesday, September 8, and abducted the man identified as Otu Michael, his wife and six children.
It was further learnt that as the family of eight were being led away, another group of bandits also operating in the community, invaded the home of another resident whose name was given as Pius John, and whisked away two persons amidst sporadic gunshots.
A combined team of police operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Sabon Tasha which was reportedly mobilized to the scene were said to have been overwhelmed.
Sources said an Inspector of Police attached to Squadron No. 62 of the Police Mobile Force, PMF, Kafanchan, Yahaya Joshua, was killed and a vehicle set ablaze.
Earlier on the same day, a gang of bandits had reportedly invaded Keke B village in Chikun Local Government Area of the state, shooting sporadically as they abducted a man whose name was given as Malam Adam and 11 other residents.
A witness said two newly born babies and their mothers were among the 12 persons abducted in the community during the attack which occurred at about 10pm on Wednesday, September 8.
It was however learnt that four of the victims later escaped from their abductors.
The bandits had launched the fresh onslaught on Monday, September 6, when they invaded four houses on Tafida Road in Keke-B, Millennium City, at about 9pm and abducted 17 residents comprising four women and 13 men.
Barely 24 hours earlier, they had stormed the residence of a community leader simply identified as Ardo Fulani Garba at Dandami village in Igabi Local Government Area of the state and reportedly shot him dead.
The police said efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted residents.