Suspected bandits led by notorious warlord Bello Turji have reportedly attacked a mosque in Birnin Yaro village, Zamfara State, abducting several worshippers during Isha prayers on Friday night.
The attackers, armed with weapons, descended on the mosque and forcefully took the victims into the nearby forest. The exact number of those kidnapped remains unclear, and no further details have been provided regarding their condition.
The attack is the latest in a series of violent abductions in Nigeria’s northern region, where banditry and kidnappings for ransom have been on the rise.
The suspected bandits, believed to be part of Turji’s notorious group, are known for their violent raids in the region, further contributing to the growing security concerns in Zamfara State.
This attack follows a series of other abductions in the region. Just last week, at least 46 people, including women and children, were kidnapped in a raid on Gana town in Zamfara.
Dozens of armed gunmen on motorbikes launched the attack, firing sporadically and setting fire to homes and businesses in the area.
In December, another raid saw at least 43 people abducted from Kakidawa in the Gidan Goga district of Maradun Local Government Area.
Eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen shot indiscriminately, forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes.
The attackers then conducted a house-to-house search, abducting women and children who were unable to escape.
These abductions are part of an ongoing wave of criminal activities by bandits across Nigeria’s northern states, exacerbating the security challenges faced by local communities.