ABUJA — Armed bandits stormed a mosque at Gidan Turbe village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State in the early hours of Monday, abducting no fewer than 40 worshippers during morning prayers.
The incident occurred barely hours after another attack on Godai village in Bukkuyum LGA of the state, where over 10 people were kidnapped. Community sources said the gunmen surrounded the mosque around 5:30 a.m. before whisking away the victims at gunpoint into the forests around the Gohori axis.
The latest assault is viewed as a major setback to the fragile peace deal brokered in Katsina and Zamfara States with local bandits. In August, community leaders and armed groups in Kurfi LGA, Katsina State, signed an agreement to end years of violence, kidnappings, and cattle rustling.
Meanwhile, troops under Operation Fasin Yamma carried out multiple operations across Katsina, Kebbi, and Zamfara, recovering arms and repelling attacks, though security forces also suffered casualties.
In a separate incident, gunmen kidnapped the parish priest of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Wilfred Ezemba, along with several commuters along the Imane–Ogugu road in Kogi State. The abduction is the second in the area within a week.
Police and local vigilantes say operations are ongoing to rescue victims in Zamfara and Kogi States.
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