Bandits yesterday abducted no fewer than 40 worshippers from a mosque located at the Gidan-Turɓe village in Tsafe local government area of Zamfara State.
A Security expert, Zagazola Makama, who confirmed the news on his X handle yesterday morning, said the abduction of the worshippers came just a day after the peace deal which many saw as the right steps taken to usher in lasting peace in the North-West state.
Makama, who quoted local sources in the community, said the attack occurred during the Islamic Fajr prayer, at about 5:30 a.m., when the gunmen stormed the mosque, surrounded it and whisked away the worshippers at gunpoint.
Makama said: “Local sources disclosed that the abductors later moved the captives into the forests around the Gohori axis in Tsafe.
The incident has thrown the rural community into confusion and despair, coming at a time when local leaders and some armed groups in Katsina and neighbouring states had reportedly entered into truces aimed at reducing attacks.
“The attack has pointed at the fragility of on-going peace arrangements in the region, where heavily armed groups continue to operate with impunity despite dialogue initiatives.
“The bandits have no command structure and control. You can negotiate with bandits in Katsina while they continue to strike in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kaduna States”, he stated.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation from security authorities in Zamfara State.
