Rimi - Gunmen have bombed a police station and kidnapped a Frenchman, Mr Francis Colump in Rimi Local Government area of Katsina State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two people were killed and a mobile policeman injured in the attack, which occurred at about 10 p.m on Wednesday.
Those who died are Rabe Dan’Unguwa (45), a security man at the residence of Colump, and one Abubakar Sale (25), a passer bye.
The abducted Frenchman works with S. A. Vergnet France, the firm handling the contract for the 10 megawatt wind mill power project in Rimi.
An eyewitness told NAN on Thursday in Rimi, that the attack on the station and the residence of Colump was carried out simultaneously by about 30 gunmen, who divided themselves into two groups.
According to him, the attackers arrived the town in three vehicles and began shooting before setting off the bomb which badly damaged the station but recorded no casualty.
The mobile police man was injured in the attack on the Frenchman's residence.
It was gathered that as soon as they shot the trio, the gunmen forced themselves into the residence and abducted the Frenchman.
When the NAN correspondent visited the town, the residents including the Caretaker Chairman of the council, Alhaji Nasiru Ala were conducting the burial rites of the two persons killed in the attack.
Ala who described the incident as "tragic", prayed God to expose those involved in the act.
When contacted, the state Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji confirmed the incident, saying that the gunmen used a gas cylinder to bomb the police station.
"Their purpose was to kidnap the expatriate, Mr Colump, but they attacked the police station to divert attention."
Magaji said two civilians were killed while the mobile policeman injured in the attack was receiving treatment at a hospital in Katsina.
"One gun belonging to the hoodlums was recovered and we are going to pursue them."
- NAN