Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped at least 46 people, including women and children during a raid on Gana town in Zamfara State.

According to Reuters, residents said the attack occurred around 10 pm on Sunday.

It was gathered that scores of gunmen on motorbikes reportedly attacked the town while shooting sporadically, burning several homes and businesses.

The incident comes about a month after gunmen reportedly kidnapped 43 persons in Kakidawa, Gidan Goga district, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen shot sporadically, causing residents to scamper into nearby bushes.

They said the assailants then conducted a house-to-house search, abducting women and children who were unable to escape.

DAILY POST reports that there has been a spike in the spate of kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria’s northern region in recent times.

Recall that last month, troops reportedly killed several terrorists in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The operation was said to have targeted several terrorist hideouts following weeks of intelligence on their activities.

Again, an unspecified number of terrorists were said to have been killed in the raid while others were targeted in air interdictions as they attempted to escape with cattle.

Gunmen kidnap 46 in Zamfara community