Abuja: Police in Nigeria have confirmed that five individuals were killed and 18 others abducted during an assault in a mosque in Zamfara state.
In the occurrence, an imam of the mosque was amongst those abducted by the gunmen, who disguised as congregants and later started to shoot at the worshippers, killing two on the spot, police representative Muhammad Shehu disclosed to Xinhua news organization on Sunday.
Three others passed away while being treated at the hospital, Shehu stated.
Witnesses revealed to Xinhua that the shooters rode into the community on motorbikes, yet disguised as guest worshippers.
They fled through a close-by shrub after the assault.
The police had quickly dispatched more operatives to the region, looking for the fleeing shooters, Shehu said to Xinhua.
In the past few weeks, criminal activities have become rampant in Nigeria’s northwest area.
Three weeks ago, some hoodlums reportedly attacked the Muslim communities group in Nsukka local government region of Enugu state, damaging properties and two mosques in the process.
A report by Daily Nigerian shows that an unknown source revealed to BBC Hausa service on Monday, November 2, that the quarrel began when a Muslim lady selling tomato took KekeNapep (rickshaw) from a village market to her shop in the town.
As per the source, the lady and the KekeNapep driver got into an argument over her transport fare, bringing about the burning and destruction of properties belonging to Muslims in the territory.
with IANSinputs
