At least five worshippers were killed and about 20 others abducted early on Friday when armed men stormed a mosque in Yandoto, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen, who arrived heavily armed around 5:30 a.m., surrounded the mosque during dawn prayers. They reportedly locked the doors before opening fire on those inside.
A resident of Yandoto, Shehu Garba, told journalists that several people sustained serious injuries and were taken to a hospital in Gusau, the state capital. According to him, “They killed five people on the spot, injured many others and took over 20 worshippers away to their camp.”
Yandoto, located about 36 kilometres from Gusau, is the hometown of Senator Kabiru Marafa.
Efforts to reach the state police command’s spokesperson, ASP Yazid Abubakar, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to multiple phone calls.
The incident comes days after a similar attack in Gidan Turbe village, also in Tsafe Local Government Area, where about 40 worshippers were reportedly kidnapped during early morning prayers.
Zamfara State has been grappling with rising banditry. In July, 35 abducted residents of Banga village in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area were reportedly killed after their families failed to raise a ransom of ₦35 million.
In March, six operatives of the state community protection guard, known as Askarawa, and four local vigilantes were ambushed and killed in Anka Local Government Area shortly after a joint security operation in Sunke Forest.
Residents say the continued attacks highlight the worsening security situation in the state.
