Gunmen killed at least six people and abducted more than 100 others, including women and children, in an attack on Kairu community in Nigeria's northwest Zamfara state, a local lawmaker and residents said on Friday.

Zamfara is the epicentre of attacks by gangs of heavily armed men, known locally as bandits, that have wreaked havoc across Nigeria's northwest in recent years, kidnapping thousands, killing hundreds and making it unsafe to travel by road or on farms in some areas.

The bandits stormed Kairu around 1040 GMT on Friday, firing indiscriminately, Abubakar Isa, a resident whose wife was abducted, told Reuters by phone.

Hamisu Faru, a local lawmaker, confirmed the attack to Reuters, saying the assailants took "no fewer than 100 people, including women and children".

"As I'm speaking to you right now, they are searching house-to-house, abducting people," Faru said by phone.

Another resident, Mohammed Usman, said the attackers laid siege to the town for nearly two hours before taking their captives. Thousands of residents have now fled the village, he said.

Zamfara police didn't immediately respond to requests for comments.