By Tgnews Reporter, Gusau
A wave of horror struck Yandoto village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Friday morning when armed bandits stormed a mosque during early morning prayers, killing at least five worshippers and leaving several others wounded. The brazen attack, described by residents as “barbaric and inhuman,” has plunged the community into fear and mourning.
Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants burst into the mosque, firing indiscriminately at worshippers, resulting in five immediate deaths. Several others sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving medical treatment, with sources indicating that the injured are responding positively. In a chilling escalation, the bandits also abducted an unknown number of worshippers, fleeing into a nearby forest.
It was a scene of terror. The gunmen showed no mercy, shooting at everyone in sight before taking some people away
A resident, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, recounted the chaos: “It was a scene of terror. The gunmen showed no mercy, shooting at everyone in sight before taking some people away.” The attack has heightened fears in Yandoto, coming just a week after a similar assault in Gidan Turbe village, also in Tsafe LGA, where approximately 40 worshippers were kidnapped during dawn prayers.
Efforts to reach the Zamfara State Police Command for comment were unsuccessful, with spokesperson DSP Yazid Abubakar stating he had not yet been briefed by the Divisional Police Officer overseeing the area.
In a separate tragedy, Zamfara State is reeling from the collapse of an illegal gold mining pit in Kadauri village, Maru Local Government Area, on Thursday. Over 100 miners are feared dead after the pit caved in, trapping scores beneath the rubble. Rescue attempts turned catastrophic, with many rescuers suffocating during the operation. So far, eight bodies, all residents of Mekwanugga village, have been recovered and returned to their community for burial.
The twin tragedies underscore the escalating insecurity and economic desperation in Zamfara, where banditry and illegal mining continue to claim lives. Authorities have yet to announce measures to address the growing crisis, leaving residents in a state of grief and uncertainty.
