By Oluwatosin Maliki
On Tuesday, suspected bandits stormed a mosque at the Ga Allah Babba village, near Sabon Layi in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, they attacked and killed the chief imam of the mosque alongside two other worshippers, while two others sustained injuries.
However, the incident is yet-to-be confirmed by police authorities in the state.
Although, Zubair Abdurrauf, a community leader, explained that the attack occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, when the Muslims were observing their morning prayers.
Furthermore, Zubair said that the gunmen were returning from Zamfara State through the Kamuku forest near Kuriga village when they saw Muslim faithfuls in the mosque observing their morning prayers.
According to the community leader, he said that they were frightened and immediately closed the mosque, but the bandits suddenly opened fire on the worshippers, killing the chief imam and two worshippers.
Additionally, he disclosed that two other worshippers sustained life-threatening injuries during the attack and were immediately taken to the Jibrin Maigwari General Hospital for treatment.
He stated, “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”.
“The imam of a mosque and two other worshippers were killed. It occurred around 5am 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” the community leader added.