Gunmen have kidnapped 19 Muslim worshipers after attacking a mosque in Nigeria’s troubled northwest.
According to the French news agency AFP, police officials in Nigeria said that attackers stormed a mosque in the village of Maigamji in Katsina state during Saturday evening prayers and shot and wounded the imam of the mosque and a worshiper.
Local police spokesman Gambo Isah said that after the shooting, they kidnapped 19 worshipers. “Our team chased the robbers and managed to rescue six worshipers from the abductors while efforts are on to free the other 13.”
He further said that two injured persons are undergoing treatment in the hospital.
In Northwestern and Central Nigeria, there is terror caused by criminal gangs.
These bandits are involved in cattle theft, kidnapping for ransom and burning houses after looting goods.
The hostages are usually released after paying a ransom to the gangs who take refuge in the vast Rogo jungle.
Officials said 15 people were killed and several others injured in attacks by bandits on villages in Kaduna state last month.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is under intense pressure to end the violence before he steps down next year at the end of his eight-year term.