Gunmen Kill 4 and Kidnap 40 in Nigeria

Police and residents reported today, Tuesday, that gunmen killed four people, including two police officers, and abducted at least 40 others in an attack on the town of Kaura Namoda in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria. State police spokesman Yazeed Abubakar confirmed the attack, stating that reinforcements had been deployed in the Kasuwar Dagi area of the town affected by the incident. Residents told Reuters via phone that the incident began with an attack on the police station in the town. Husseini Mohammed said, "They kidnapped more than 40 women and children and some elderly men." Hamisu Kasuwar Dagi, who heads the transport union in the town, told Reuters that the attackers kidnapped his son and two of his grandchildren. He added, "My house is next to the police station. The bandits started by attacking the police station and continued for several minutes until they killed two police officers and two other civilians... then they went to my house... they took my son and two of my grandchildren."