In a tragic incident, suspected bandits launched a deadly assault on worshippers at a Mosque in Saya-Saya village, located in the Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State resulting in the death of seven villagers.
The assailants targeted the congregation during their Isha’i (Sunset) prayers at the local mosque, with five victims falling inside the mosque, while the other two lost their lives at different locations within the vicinity.
The attack occured at approximately 8 pm, as revealed by local sources.
Dan Asabe, a resident of the village, disclosed that two villagers sustained gunshot wounds and were promptly rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Malam Abdulrahaman Yusuf, the village Head, confirmed the harrowing incident and lamented that the head of the local vigilante group was among those killed within the mosque.
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“We suspected they traced him (vigilante boss) to the mosque to attack him. We were inside the mosque praying when they arrived and started shooting. Five persons were killed at the mosque, while a driver who brought food items to the village was also killed. The other person was killed at a nearby village,” he said.
He said security agencies comprising soldiers and police from Ikara town and Palgore area arrived at the scene around 12:30am, but by then, the bandits had already left the village.
According to him, one of the victims with gunshot wounds was taken to Aminu Kano Hospital for treatment.
He said the village was thrown into confusion.
Acting Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Mansir Alhassan, who confirmed the incident, said security personnel had been mobilised to nearby bushes to fish out the perpetrators.
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According to him, the police and other security agencies were not informed on the attack until after the attackers left the area.
He urged the members of the public to always report suspicious movement within their communities to nearby security agencies at the right time.
