MINNA — The gunmen were to have stormed a mosque at Mazakuka in Mashegu Local Government Council of Niger State in the early hours of Monday and killed no fewer than 18 persons when the victims were performing their early morning prayers (Subhi).
According to a source, the attackers used dangerous weapons, including machete and sharp objects on their victims in carrying out their nefarious acts.
The gunmen invaded the community in motorcycles and made their way straight to the mosque where the people had gathered for prayers.
There was pandemonium in the entire community as people scrambled for their safety as the gunmen unleashed terror on their victims.
Although 18 bodies were seen within the vicinity of the mosque, sources however pointed out that the casualty figure could be more because many people ran into the bush for safety and were yet to return.
Mr. Monday Kuryas, Niger state Commissioner of Police who confirmed the incident said that at about 5:30am some unknown gunmen stormed and attacked the people at Mazakuka village while praying at the mosque, killing an unspecified number of worshipers.
“The gunmen later destroyed property worth millions of naira belonging to Alhaji Abubakar Maigandus in the village before abducting seven other victims.
“The police killed one of the attackers, adding that preliminary findings indicate that the attack was a reprisal one as a result of a long standing communal clash.
We are battle ready to confront any form of criminal elements as long as good Samaritans can volunteer credible information on movement of dubious characters in their midst.
“Already, additional armed security personnel had since been deployed to the area to ensure that normalcy returns and arrest the miscreants undermining the peaceful coexistence among the people,” Kuryas said.
He then solicited for the support of residents, especially those at rural areas to come forward with reliable information that could aid the personnel deployed across the state to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the criminal acts.
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