Panic as bandits abduct worshippers from Zamfara mosque

There was panic on Friday in Zugu community, Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State as bandits invaded a Jumat mosque and abducted a yet-to-be-ascertained number of worshippers.

A resident and an eyewitness, who spoke to Daily Trust, said the attackers caught the worshippers unawares, as they disguised as fellow worshippers.

“No one saw them with guns and many people mistook them for worshippers. Nobody paid attention to them because they hid their guns. However, shortly after they moved inside the mosque, they brought out the rifles and fired some warning shots.

“They herded the congregants into bush but some of the worshippers managed to scramble out of the mosque to safety. The muezzin was among those kidnapped but the Imam was able to escape the assault.

“Some of those who were outside the mosque were also abducted. They fired several gunshots into the air and then moved to forest with the captives,” the eyewitness, who gave his name only as Abubakar, said.

The police spokesman in the state, Muhammad Shehu, was quoted as saying he had yet to receive any report on the attack, when contacted. Punch