KANO, Nigeria 

Gunmen stormed a college in the Mando town of Nigeria's northwestern Kaduna State and abducted several students early Friday, police said.

Mohammed Jalige, a spokesman for police in the Kaduna State, confirmed the incident, saying the exact number of students abducted from the hostel of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization is currently unknown.

Jalige told Anadolu Agency over the phone that investigations are ongoing, and added that the police are working with the army to trace the kidnappers.

“They were abducted last night but we have no details of the number of students and I can’t say if they are all girls. We are currently working with the Nigerian army to trace the kidnappers and rescue the students.”

Some witnesses told Anadolu Agency that they heard gunshots at night but thought they were coming from the Nigeria Defense Academy, which is located near the college.

Earlier, 317 schoolgirls were kidnapped by gunmen from a school in the northwestern Zamfara State on Feb. 26, and released on March 2.