NIGERIA: 15 WORSHIPPERS AT ZAMFARA MOSQUE KILLED BY BENDITS DURING FRIDAY PRAYERS

Sat 24 September 2022:

At least 15 people were slain at a mosque in Zamfara state, northwest Nigeria, according to locals on Saturday.

The attack in the Bukkuyum local government area took place during Friday prayers at the Jumu’at central mosque in Ruwan Jema town, three residents told Reuters.

“The armed bandits came on motorbikes while holding their guns and moved straight to the mosque and began to shoot sporadically us,” resident Amimu Mustapha said.

Another resident who asked not to be named said the attack took place at roughly 2 p.m. local time, adding there were many others injured.

A spokesman for Zamfara state police did not immediately respond to calls or text messages seeking to confirm the residents’ reports.

Residents of Ruwan Jema claimed that in August they provided bandits 9 million naira ($21,000), gasoline, and cigarettes in exchange for the guys leaving them alone.

In the past two years, gangs of highly armed individuals, known as bandits locally, have wreaked havoc across northwest Nigeria, kidnapping thousands, killing hundreds, and making some places dangerous to travel by road or farm in.

The attacks have baffled the overburdened security personnel. Before beginning a bombing campaign against bandits and terrorists last week, the military issued warnings to inhabitants of Zamfara and two other states to evacuate forested regions.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent