Bandits on Monday attacked the residence of a Kaduna State University lecturer, Ahmed Buba, in Zaria, Kaduna, and abducted his six children.

The gunmen also shot a soldier, Ebuka Okechukwu, who later died of gunshot wounds in a hospital.

The bandits abducted Rabi Isya, Mr Buba’s neighbour’s wife and two of her children.

The bandits were, however, intercepted on Tuesday.

A source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the bandits numbered about 30 and were armed with sophisticated weapons and shot sporadically into the air as they attacked the community.

“The joint personnel of Kaduna State Vigilance Service, the military and the police swiftly responded to a distress call.

“On sighting the security personnel, the bandits opened fire and in the process killed the soldier,” the source said.

A resident of the area, Haruna Shika, said the six abducted children were later rescued at Kasuwan Da’a in Zaria local government area of the state.

Reacting to the incident on Tuesday, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Army Depot, Zaria, Joy Abah, said information on the death of the soldier had not reached her.

Attempts to get the police to react were abortive as the police spokesperson in the state refused to respond to calls and text messages.