Terrorists Kill Zamfara Community Imam, Kidnap Scores Of Residents After Night Prayers

Terrorists have attacked Keita village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque in the village, Sheikh Ahmad Rufa’i, and kidnapping scores of the villagers.

A resident of the village, Ibrahim Musa Keita, said the terrorists invaded the village shortly after Muslims observed the isha’i (night) congregational prayer on Tuesday.

According to Daily Trust, the resident said that, “Before the invasion, the residents were alerted about the movement of the bandits along Kwarin Gano-Keita Road. They were sighted along that road but we were not sure whether they would come to this village or not.

“Initially, they wanted to abduct road users along the Keita-Kwarin Gano Road, but after spending some time without getting a single person, they invaded Keita village, killed our chief imam and abducted scores of people, including women.

“We have not ascertained the number of people they have abducted as some people ran into the bush and have not been seen yet.”

Sheikh Rufa’i’s killing came barely three weeks after the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque in Mada in Gusau Local Government Area of the state, Abubakar Hassan Mada, was killed.

Similarly, two people were reportedly abducted in Magazu village in the same Tsafe Local Government Area on Tuesday.

A resident of the village, Yusuf Ibrahim, reportedly said that the terrorists invaded the village around 3am, shooting sporadically, forcing most residents to flee their homes.

However, when contacted for confirmation of the incidents and comments, the Zamfara State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Yazid, said he was yet to get details of the incidents but promised to provide information on the incidents as soon as he gets the details. 

But he has not provided the information at the time of filing this report.