The Zamfara State Police Commissioner, CP Ibrahim Maikaba, has revealed the identities of the Imam and worshippers who were killed at a mosque on Friday morning.
Daily Trust reports that the bandits struck at the worship place in Yantodon Daji village of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.
CP Maikaba said bandits have resolved to be attacking places of worship to attract public attention.
“We believe the bandits deployed this method of operation just to draw the attention of the public. They have witnessed the reactions of the public when a mosque was attacked in Malumfashi local government area of Katsina state and that is why they did it here in Zamfara,” he said.
“They invaded the mosque when worshippers were conducting morning prayer and started shooting sporadically, thereby killing Imam and four other people.
“They also abducted three persons and took them to an unknown destination.
“However, it was traced further and confirmed that the Bandits Kingpin Bakin Malam and his loyalists of Makera axis were responsible for this attack.
Maikaba gave the names of the deceased victims as Sale Dangero, 75, Mamman Yaro, 72, Malam Lawali Bataribas, 67, Malam Jafaru a rtd ASP, 68 and Malam Safiyanu,55.
He also identified the abducted persons as Danyaye Alh Gambo, Malam Basiru and Ibrahim Bello.
The latest assault comes just days after a similar attack occurred in Gidan Turbe village in the same local government where about 40 worshippers were reportedly abducted during early morning prayers.
Earlier in July, The Punch reported that 35 kidnapped victims from Banga village in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State were killed by bandits after their families failed to pay a ransom of N35m.
Tragedy also struck in Anka Local Government Area in March when six operatives of the state community protection guards, popularly known as Askarawa, along with four local vigilantes, were killed in an ambush by bandits.
The ambush occurred shortly after a joint security operation, led by the Nigerian Army, successfully targeted criminal elements in Sunke Forest.
The state has witnessed a surge in killings due to the worsening security situation.
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