In the early hours of Friday morning, unknown terrorists raided a mosque in Yandoto town, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara, killing five people and kidnapping 20 others.
According to reports, the terrorists struck while people were worshiping in the mosque.
Shehu Garba, an indigene of Yandoto town, told the press that the terrorists, who were highly armed, surrounded the worshippers at 5:30 a.m.
Garba stated that the gunmen shut the mosque and began shooting those inside during morning prayers.
According to him, numerous other worshipers were kidnapped, and many were severely injured during the raid.
Garba stated, “They killed five people instantly and wounded several others who are now on admission at the hospital in Gusau, the state capital. They also abducted over 20 people who are presently in their camp.”
Yandoto, located approximately 36 kilometers away, is the hometown of Senator Kabiru Marafa, a notable politician.
All attempts to contact the state police command’s spokesperson, ASP Yazid Abubakar, were futile because he did not return several phone calls.
The attack came only days after a similar attack in Gidan Turbe village, in the same local government, in which over 40 worshippers were reportedly kidnapped during early morning prayers.
Earlier in July, 35 kidnapped victims from Banga village in the Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State were killed by bandits after their families failed to pay a ransom of N35m.
In March, tragedy struck Anka Local Government Area when six state community protection guards, known as Askarawa, were killed in an ambush by terrorists, along with four local vigilantes.
The ambush occurred shortly after the Nigerian Army led a successful joint security operation against criminal elements in Sunke Forest.
As the state’s security situation deteriorates, there has been an increase in killings.
