BREAKING: Bandits Break Into Katsina Mosque, Abduct 40 Worshippers

BREAKING: Bandits Break Into Katsina Mosque, Abduct 40 Worshippers

Bandits in the early hours of Monday surrounded a mosque in Jibia and abducted worshippers observing midnight prayer (Tahajjud) in the holy month of.

Bandits in the early hours of Monday surrounded a mosque in Jibia and abducted worshippers observing midnight prayer (Tahajjud) in the holy month of Ramadan.

The incident took place at Abattoir area of Jibia, Jibia local government area of Katsina state.

One of the officials of committee on IDPs in Jibia, who confirmed the unfortunate incident to Daily Trust, said the number of those abducted could be above 40.

He said they had an intelligence report that the bandits were mobilizing to attack Jibia since around 7:30pm on Sunday, and they notified the security agents and local vigilante as well.

Our focus was on Izala mosque at Tashar Huraira area, so we deployed our resources there, but unfortunately when they came they went to the mosque which is not that popular.

One of the worshippers who escaped told us that when they came they surrounded the mosque while prayers were in progress, went in, switched off the mic with which the Imam was reciting Qur’an, and asked the worshippers to move out,” he said.

He said Jibia had been targeted by the bandits as some captives once overheard them discussing about their plan of attacking the town.

Police rescue 30

Police spokesman in Katsina, SP Gambo, confirmed the incident, saying the bandits who came in their numbers, carrying AK 47 riffles, surrounded the worshippers at a newly constructed mosque at the outskirt of Jibia.

It is around Abattoir quarters, which is their notorious route into Jibia. They surrounded the worshippers and fired a shot into the air to scare them after which they abducted about 40 of them.

But a combined effort of the police, military, local vigilante and members of the community went after them and succeeded in rescuing about 30 of the victims.

When we conducted a headcount this morning, about 10 are still missing, but we are not sure if they are actually with the bandits or they have ran to other places for their safety. But investigation is ongoing,” he said.

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