Armed bandits have killed four persons and abducted four others in Tangaza town, the northern district of Sokoto State.
It was gathered that the assailants stormed the town after evening prayers on Friday, during which a store owner and a young girl were shot dead.
Three other persons who were injured were said to be receiving treatment.
During the attack, the assailants carted away food items and beverages.
However, the bandits were stopped in their tracks when security operatives arrived the scene just in time to save one of the kidnap victims.
Residents of the invaded community stated that four children were abducted however the Sokoto State Police Command PPRO, ASP Sanusi Abubakar confirmed the incident but maintained that only one person was killed and there was no abduction.
The attack comes a few days following reports that a threat letter was sent to some communities in Sokoto from the bandits.
In the letter written in the Hausa language, the assailants mentioned five communities – Shuni, Kwanar Kimba, Rikina, and Dange, all in Dange/Shuni Local Government Area, causing panic among the residents.
Bandits have raided the Noth-Western region of Nigeria, causing untold hardship among residents and destroying the livelihood of many people.
In recent weeks, Sokoto state has been the epicenter of their attacks, as they maim, kill, steal and rape residents without provocation.