An early morning prayer session in Zamfara turned tragic on Friday after armed bandits invaded a mosque in Yandoto, Tsafe Local Government Area, killing at least five worshippers and abducting several others.
According to reports shared by security analyst Bakatsine on his official X page, the gunmen struck during Subhi (dawn) prayers, opening fire on worshippers before taking hostages.
He noted that the attackers injured several individuals in the process.
“This assault on people while they bow their heads in worship is a disturbing trend,” Bakatsine wrote, warning that religious gatherings are increasingly being targeted in the northwest.
Meanwhile, residents who spoke to journalists described the incident as terrifying, saying the assailants stormed the mosque without warning.
One local who escaped unharmed said, “We were deep in prayers when gunshots suddenly echoed through the mosque. People scattered, but some were not lucky.”
The number of those abducted remains unclear at the time of filing this report, as authorities have yet to issue an official statement.
Security forces are, however, believed to be combing the area in pursuit of the attackers.
Zamfara State has been one of the hardest-hit regions in northern Nigeria by banditry, with frequent cases of kidnappings, village raids, and attacks on places of worship.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns about the safety of rural communities during routine religious activities.
As of press time, relatives of the victims are still counting their losses while waiting anxiously for updates on those taken away by the armed men.