At least five worshippers were killed when bandits attacked a mosque during early morning prayers in Yandoto village, located in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The assault, which occurred on Friday morning, sent shockwaves throughout the community.
According to witnesses, the assailants invaded the mosque and opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the immediate deaths of five individuals and leaving numerous others with gunshot injuries.
A local resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, reported that the attackers also kidnapped an unknown number of worshippers before escaping into a nearby forest.
Describing the event as “barbaric and inhuman,” the source mentioned that some of the injured victims are currently receiving medical care and are responding positively.
When reached for comment, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, stated that he had not yet been informed about the incident by the Divisional Police Officer responsible for the area.
This attack occurs just a week after a similar event in Gidan Turbe village, also within Tsafe LGA, where approximately 40 worshippers were reportedly abducted during dawn prayers.
In a separate tragedy, more than 100 illegal miners are feared dead following the collapse of a gold pit in Kadauri village, situated in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Sources indicated that the pit collapsed on Thursday, trapping numerous miners.
Attempts to rescue those buried under the debris reportedly resulted in additional casualties, as many rescuers suffocated during the operation.
To date, eight bodies have been recovered, all identified as residents of Mekwanugga village.
The deceased have been returned to their community for burial rites.
