No fewer than seven persons have been killed by bandits in Saya Saya village in the Ikara Local Government area of Kaduna State.

A resident of the area, Ismail Ikara, told Peoples Gazette that bandits struck while the worshippers were saying their evening prayers at about 8:00 p.m. on Friday. 

The state police spokesman, SP Mansur Hassan, who confirmed the attack, said the bandits shot sporadically, killing the residents.

” Yes, it’s true that the attack happened yesterday evening ( Friday) at a mosque while innocent Muslim faithful were observing evening prayers,” said Mr Hassan. “Armed bandits stormed in and shot sporadically, killing five worshippers on the spot while two others were shot within the precinct of the mosque.”

According to a community leader in the village, the head of the vigilante group was among the five killed.

Commissioner of Police Musa Yusuf, on hearing of the attack, mobilised officers to nearby bushes to fish out the criminals. 

He further called on the people of the area to be weary of new faces around them and report any suspicious stranger they see for immediate response and action.