ABUJA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were shot dead and five others were kidnapped when a group of gunmen attacked a village in Nigeria's northern state of Katsina, police said on Tuesday.
The gunmen attacked the Sayaya village of the Matazu local government area on Monday evening, wielding dangerous weapons and shooting sporadically, Abubakar Aliyu, spokesman for the police in Katsina, told reporters in the state's capital.
Two people were injured in the attack, he added.
Aliyu said that upon receiving reports of the attack, the police mobilized operatives to the scene to engage the bandits in a gun duel and succeeded in repelling the attack.
The police has intensified efforts to ensure the rescue of the kidnapped victims and the arrest of the perpetrators, he said.
Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months. ■