The villagers were performing their early morning prayers on Thursday when the gunmen invaded the village in large numbers and attacked the villagers.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have invaded Maza-Kuka in Ba’are village, Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, killing no fewer than 15 persons in a mosque.
The villagers were performing their early morning prayers on Thursday when the gunmen invaded the village in large numbers and attacked the villagers.
The gunmen reportedly arrived on motorcycles and went straight into the mosque shooting sporadically resulting in the death of residents.
An eyewitness said the community was taken unawares by the bandits who left many dead and many others injured.
The Niger State Commissioner of Police, Monday Bala Kuryas, confirmed the incident.
Kuryas however said nine people were killed in the attack.
He stressed that security agencies would continue to discharge their responsibility of protecting lives and properties of Nigerlites and Nigerians while calling for credible intelligence from public.
“The Niger State Police Command has already drafted security personnel to the affected area to further safeguard lives and properties in that community,” the police boss said.
The incident is coming a few months after some worshippers were killed in a mosque at Mazukaka village in Mashegu LGA of the state.