In a horrifying occurrence, armed gunmen kidnapped over 40 worshippers during an early morning prayer in Zamfara State.
The terrifying incident occurred at 5 a.m. at a mosque in Tsafe town, the seat of Tsafe Local Government Area in Zamfara State on Thursday, causing shockwaves throughout the town.
A report by Vanguard said Yahaya Aminu, a native of Tsafe town, revealed that the armed bandits attacked the mosque during the morning prayer, telling everyone to leave and follow them. Fortunately, Aminu narrowly evaded the abduction.
Aminu described his horror, saying, “As I speak to you now, more than forty (40) persons have been taken by the bandits. We were ready to begin our morning prayer when a big group of bandits entered the mosque and ordered everyone to follow them. Thank God I was able to sneak out and avoid capture because we were a large group and they couldn’t control everyone.”
Another victim, Sani Tsafe, who escaped, recounted the bandits’ mode of action. He added that when the bandits attacked, the mosque was packed to capacity, with few people able to flee. The bandits, armed with modern weaponry, barred escape routes and threatened to kill anyone who tried to flee.
Sani Tsafe urged for immediate action from both the state and federal governments, underlining the prevalence of banditry in the region. He emphasized the importance of implementing security measures to protect communities from such horrible attacks.
In response to the incident, a community official said that the newly formed Community Protection Guard (CPG) tracked the bandits into the bush to rescue the kidnapped worshippers.
Meanwhile, ASP Yazid, spokesman for the state Police Command, has yet to offer comprehensive facts regarding the situation, pledging to do so as it is gathered.
The Tsafe local government region, located around 45 kilometers from Gusau, the state capital, has continually been plagued by banditry, with daily kidnappings along the road.
The horrific abduction of worshippers highlights the critical need for increased security and action in Zamfara State.