Chief Imam, Two Others Killed As Bandits Attack Mosque In Kaduna

The Chief Imam, Ga Allah Babba village, near Sabon Layi in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and two other worshippers, were reportedly killed when bandits allegedly attacked the village mosque on Tuesday with many sustaining injuries.

A community leader, Zubair Abdurrauf, while speaking with journalists said the incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday when the Muslims were observing their morning prayers.

According to him, the bandits were returning from Zamfara State through the Kamuku forest near Kuriga village when they saw Muslim faithful observing morning prayer and attacked them.

He added that the mosque doors were shut before the gunmen opened fire on the worshippers, killing the chief imam and two others.

The community leader disclosed further that two other worshippers who sustained life-threatening injuries were rushed to the Jibrin Maigwari General Hospital for treatment.

He said, “The attack took place at Ga Allah Babba of Sabon Layi, an agrarian community in the western part of Birnin-Gwari. These are areas neighbouring the Kamuku National Park and the Kuyebana forest in Zamfara and Niger States,” he stated.

“The imam of a mosque and two other worshippers were killed. It occurred around 5 am on Tuesday. Two other worshippers who sustained life-threatening injuries are at the Jibrin Maigwari General Hospital, Birnin-Gwari.

“Bandits attack Birnin-Gwari communities almost daily, killing and abducting residents, especially farmers. The situation is more worrisome on the Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highway and has become a nightmare for travellers and other road users.”