Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted Muslim faithful while in the mosque for a Friday prayer in Zamfara State.

The bandits reportedly abducted dozens of worshippers from the Mosque in Zugu village of Gummi Local Government Area of the state.

Residents disclosed that the bandits hid their guns inside their clothes and stormed the mosque when the Imam was about to start delivering sermon.

The gunmen were said to have told those outside the mosque to converge inside.

“When they laid siege, they asked those outside to go into the mosque and told worshippers that they had come to negotiate the release of some captives with them.

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“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 the 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 because unknown to them that some armed men took positions outside. They fired several gunshots into the air and then moved to forest with the captives,” a resident who simply identified himself as Abubakar said.

The Zamfara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Muhammad Shehu, said he has not received a report about the attack but promised to get back after inquiry.

Shehu has however yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

The Star