Gunmen suspected to be bandits have kidnapped over 40 Muslim worshippers, who were observing Thajud (vigil) in a mosque at Jibia, Katsina State.
It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 12am on Monday.
An eyewitness said the gunmen quietly attacked the mosque located around the New Abbatoir Area in the town when the worshippers were in the middle of the prayers and did not fire any gunshot in order not to attract attention.
The victims were reportedly marched out of the mosque to the bandits’ waiting motorcycles.
The eye-witnessed said, “The bandits arrived silently a few minutes after midnight.
“They entered the mosque and marched the victims out.
“During the operation, some gang members positioned themselves within the vicinity of the mosque.
“It was when they were leaving the mosque with the last victim that one of them shot into the air and they then moved along the Kaoran-Namoda Highway.
“The gunshot attracted residents and security operatives who later arrived at the mosque.”
However, security operatives including the police and soldiers, have taken positions in the town.