South Africa: <scp>BRICS</scp> Naval Exercise

It said that the Kaduna State police commissioner's earlier comments denying the mass abduction "were intended to prevent unnecessary panic while facts were being confirmed".The authorities did not confirm the number of abductees, but an official of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) earlier said the gunmen abducted at least 172 worshippers in the January 18th attack in Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru LGA of Kaduna.Gunmen attacked two villages in northcentral Plateau state, killing seven people and wounding one, in a fresh surge of violence in the region, privately-owned Daily Trust website reported (8/1).According to local youth leader Solomon Dalyop, gunmen opened fire on miners at a site in Gero community of Jos South LGA, killing six and forcing others to flee.Daily Post (1/1) reported that gunmen suspected to be Fulani herders killed seven people and injured dozens in an attack on Bum community, also in Jos South LGA on December 31st.The assailants stormed the community, firing indiscriminately and torching homes.