A police inspector and the commander of Kaduna state Vigilante Service have been killed by gunmen in Kaduna State.
The security officials were said to have been killed late on Tuesday, during an operation at Ungwar Katsinawa village, Shika, in Giwa Local Government Area of the state.
The gunmen, suspected to be armed robbers, also abducted three young girls believed to be daughters of the late vigilante chief, Mustapha Gali.
Spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, Mr Mukhtar Aliyu, confirmed the incident to Channels Television via a telephone interview.
Mr Aliyu said the deceased were killed by the armed bandits during a shootout with policemen, following a distress call about a robbery operation at the residence of the late vigilante chairman.
According to him, about 30 gunmen stormed the residence of the vigilante leader, shooting randomly and, thereafter, abducted three of his daughters before the arrival of policemen.
Aliyu, however, said the gunmen were prevented from escaping with the girls while a manhunt to apprehend the suspects had been launched.
He added that a police corporal and some other residents, who were seriously injured, were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
