Gunmen Abduct Six Worshippers During Ramadan Prayer in Kaduna

Gunmen Abduct Six Worshippers During Ramadan Prayer in Kaduna

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted six Muslim worshippers during Taraweeh prayers at a mosque in Azara community, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The incident was said to have occurred on Thursday night as residents gathered for the Ramadan prayer.

A resident of the community, Tanimu Ibrahim, said the attackers stormed the area, firing shots into the air to scare residents before seizing six adults; four men and two women from the mosque.

According to him, the gunmen also raided another house while fleeing and abducted two additional persons. However, the two victims reportedly escaped while being led into the bush.

“Two other victims were abducted, but as God would have it, they narrowly escaped on their way into the forest,” Ibrahim said.

A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the abduction and identified the six victims as Saifullahi Harisu, Yakubu Yunusa, Abba Minkailu, Yusha’u Sadiku, Maryam Abdullahi and Aisha Yakubu.

The source further disclosed that the kidnappers contacted the community on Friday morning and demanded N30 million for the release of the victims.

“Contact was established around 11 am on Friday when the bandits’ leader called and demanded N30 million and he immediately switched off the phone,” the community leader said.

A police source in the area confirmed the attack but declined to give details, directing enquiries to the Kaduna State Police Command.

As of the time of filing this report, the spokesperson of the command, ASP Hassan Mansur, had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

The latest abduction adds to the growing security concerns in parts of Kaduna State, where communities have repeatedly come under attack by armed groups.