SEVEN worshippers have been killed by suspected bandits in a Mosque in Saya-Saya village, Ikara Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
Five of the victims were gunned down inside the mosque, while the other two were killed somewhere in the neighborhood.
According to local sources, the incident occurred at 8 p.m., while the locals were performing Isha’i (Sunset) prayers at a nearby mosque.
Dan Asabe, a villager, said two more villagers with gunshot wounds were transported to the hospital for treatment.
Malam Abdulrahaman Yusuf, the village chief, confirmed the tragedy, stating the village’s vigilante leader was among those killed inside the mosque.
“We suspected they traced him (vigilante leader) to the mosque to attack him. We were inside the mosque praying when they arrived and started shooting. Five persons were killed at the mosque, while a driver who brought food items to the village was also killed. The other person was killed at a nearby village,” he said.
He revealed that security forces from Ikara town and the Palgore area arrived at the scene at 12:30 a.m., but the bandits had already fled the village.
One of the victims with gunshot wounds, he said, was transferred to Aminu Kano Hospital for treatment.
He also mentioned that the village had been thrown into disarray as a result of the incidence.
When contacted, Mohammad Lawal Shehu, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, refused to comment, saying he would seek confirmation from the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.
Mansir Alhassan, the State Police Command’s Acting Public Relations Officer, verified the event and said security forces had been dispatched to adjacent bushes to apprehend the offenders.
He maintained that the police and other security services were not notified of the attack until the terrorists had departed the area.
He asked residents to constantly report suspicious movement within their areas to surrounding security services at the appropriate time.
