Armed bandits on Sunday night abducted no fewer than 40 worshippers during prayers at a mosque in Zamfara State, in yet another wave of insecurity plaguing the North-West.
The incident occurred in Tsafe Local Government Area, where residents said dozens of gunmen stormed the community mosque and whisked away worshippers at gunpoint.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that the attackers, who rode on motorcycles, surrounded the mosque during evening prayers, forcing terrified worshippers into the nearby forest.
A resident, who gave his name simply as Musa, said: “They came in large numbers, shooting into the air. People were praying when they entered the mosque and ordered everyone to follow them. Many families are now in anguish.”
The Zamfara State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the attack. Security sources, however, confirmed that a joint team of security operatives has been deployed to track down the assailants and rescue the victims.
Zamfara, one of the states worst-hit by banditry, has suffered repeated attacks on communities, schools, and highways, with hundreds killed and thousands displaced in recent years.
Residents lamented the frequency of assaults despite ongoing military operations in the state, calling on the federal and state governments to step up efforts to secure rural communities.
As of press time, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and it remains unclear whether the abductors have made contact with the families of the victims.
