Gunmen shoot 18 people dead, abduct seven others inside mosque in Niger

Gunmen have attacked a mosque in Niger State, killing 18 people and abducting seven others during prayer

The gunmen reportedly stormed a  mosque at Mazakuka village in Mashegu Local Government Area of the state on Monday morning and attacked the worshippers.

Monday Kuryas, State Commissioner of Police, disclosed that the hoodlums also abducted seven other worshipers at the mosque and killed several others.

Kuryas said the incident occurred on Monday at about 5:30am when the gunmen attacked the village.

He said the gunmen later destroyed property worth millions of Naira belonging to one Alhaji Abubakar Maigandus in the village.

Meanwhile, one of the bandits was shot dead in a gun duel with security operatives.

Reports have it that the incident was understood to be a reprisal attack resulting from a long-standing communal feud.

He said that already additional armed security personnel had since been deployed to the area to ensure the arrest of the gunmen and all other miscreants undermining the peaceful coexistence among residents.

Meanwhile, he urged the residents, especially those in the rural areas of the state, to come forward with reliable information that could aid the personnel deployed across the state to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in criminal acts.

“We are battle-ready to confront any form of criminal elements as long as good residents will volunteer credible information on the movement of dubious characters in their midst,” Kuryas said.