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Gunmen have killed seven Muslim worshippers and injured three others in two separate assaults on mosques in northwest Nigeria’s Kaduna state, police stated Saturday.
Suspects from prison gangs known as bandits opened hearth Friday on worshippers in Saya-Saya group in Ikara district throughout night prayers, killing six individuals, Kaduna state police spokesman Mansir Hassan stated in an announcement.
“At about 8:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Friday, we acquired info from Saya-Saya village that six individuals had been killed whereas performing final prayer of the day… in a mosque,” Hassan stated.
“Bandits, about 9 of them on bikes, arrived and attacked the individuals within the mosque,” he stated.
The gunmen then moved to neighbouring Tashar Dauda village the place they attacked one other mosque, killing one individual and injuring three others, he stated.
The assailants took 4 bikes earlier than fleeing into the bush, Hassan stated within the assertion.
Abdulrahman Yusuf, the native chief of Saya-Saya stated the top of vigilantes within the village was among the many worshippers killed within the mosque.
“We imagine he was the primary goal of the assault and he was from all indications trailed to the mosque by the bandits,” stated Yusuf who was amongst worshippers that escaped unharmed.
Kaduna is one among a number of states in northwest and central Nigeria terrorised by bandits who raid villages, kill and kidnap residents in addition to loot and subsequently burn houses.
The criminals, who’re motivated by monetary beneficial properties, periodically assault church buildings and mosques to kidnap worshippers for ransom or to avenge their comrades killed or arrested by native vigilantes combating them.
Native authorities in Kaduna have expressed concern over rising alliance between the bandits and jihadists waging a 14-year insurgency to determine a Caliphate within the northeast.
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