According to local accounts, the attackers arrived in Pupule yesterday morning at around two in the morning.
The attackers apparently fired rounds into the air, surprising the unwary people and putting an end to any immediate resistance.
One villager bemoaned, "This is the third time kidnapping for ransom has occurred in the village in less than six months."
Usman Abdullahi, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), corroborated the report with the following statement: "Yes, it is true that a district head and fifteen other people have been abducted. Two local residents, an inspector and a sergeant, are among the victims.
Law enforcement authorities have stepped up their attempts to find the kidnappers in reaction to the incident.
In order to save the victims and bring peace back, the police command has sent a combination of professional hunters, vigilantes, anti-kidnapping teams, and striking force to the scene, according to the police spokesman.
The tragedy makes Taraba's current state of unrest worse, especially in light of the recent death of a village chief in Ibbi Local Council.