Armed bandits, on Monday morning, abducted 40 worshippers during prayers.
The incident occurred at a mosque in Gidan Turbe village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Community sources told security analyst Zagazola Makama that the attack happened around 5:30 a.m. on Monday, when the gunmen stormed the mosque, surrounded it, and whisked away the worshippers at gunpoint.
The captives were reportedly moved into the forests around the Gohori axis in Tsafe.
The incident has thrown the community into confusion, coming barely a day after reports of peace deals between local leaders and armed groups in parts of the North West aimed at reducing attacks.
Observers say the abduction highlights the fragility of ongoing peace efforts in the region, where heavily armed groups continue to operate despite dialogue initiatives.
“The bandits have no command, structure or control. You can negotiate with bandits in Katsina while they continue to strike in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Kaduna,” a local source told Zagazola.
NATIONAL POST reports that Governor Dauda Lawal had days ago said he had the capacity to end banditry in the state if security operatives were under his command.
His remarks were suggestive that security agencies in the state were being prevented from tackling the bandits.
