Armed Bandits attacked a mosque in Gusau, Zamfara state, and abducted scores of worshippers on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024, Trust TV has learnt.
The attack was reportedly carried out when Muslim faithfuls in the area observed the famous congregational prayer, Tahajjud.
Tahajjud, a special prayer observed by Muslims in the last 10 days of the holy month of Ramadan, holds high significance amongst the faithfuls, making this abduction all the more tragic.
A resident who spoke with reporters said the attackers stormed the mosque during the night prayer and kidnapped worshippers, they, however, were not able to account for the exact number of people captured.
“While the number of abducted individuals remains unconfirmed, authorities are actively pursuing the assailants,” the resident said.
No demand has been made yet and motive remain unknown as no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
This latest and audacious attack comes on the heels of heightened concerns over escalating banditry and related criminal activities in Zamfara State. Just over a week ago, the governor of the state, Dauda Lawal, approached President Bola Tinubu with a list of concerns and possible ways to address the mounting security challenges in the state.
According to a statement released then by the spokesperson of the Zamfara governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, governor Lawal briefed the President on the security situation in state, particularly the resurgence of banditry attacks in some local government areas.
Tinubu and the governor reportedly strategized on various measures to tackle the challenging situation, including enhanced security deployment, intelligence gathering and community engagement programs.
The meeting, the spokesman said, also highlighted the need to address the root causes of the problem, such as poverty and unemployment.
The president has reiterated his administration’s determination to stop ransom payment to terrorists, a will that has been tested in recent times, one a number of occasions.
