In Niger State, no fewer than 15 worshippers were reportedly killed while dozens sustained injuries in a fresh attack in Ba’are village, Mashegu Local Government Area of the state.

The bandits, in their large number, reportedly invaded a mosque in the early hours of Wednesday when villagers were performing their early morning (Subh) prayer and killed 15 of them.

A source who spoke in confidence said the injured were taken to Kontagora General Hospital.

The state Commissioner of Police, Monday Bala Kuryas, who confirmed the incident, however, said nine people were killed during the attack.

“Niger State Police Command has already drafted security personnel to the affected area to further safeguard lives and properties in that community,” he said.

He said security agencies would continue to discharge their responsibility of protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians, and called for credible intelligence from the public to succeed.

The attack on Ba’are village came less than two months after bandits invaded a mosque in Maza-Kuka community in the same LGA and killed 18 worshippers during the early morning prayers.

Kidnappers kill housewife, abduct 6 in Abuja

In Abuja, kidnappers on Wednesday raided some houses and killed a housewife identified as Salamatu.

It was learnt that the deceased, who was the senior wife of a yam dealer in Kwali, Yusuf Maigunwa, attempted to escape through the back door when she was shot dead.

“The husband of the deceased was at home when the kidnappers came but they couldn’t locate where he was hiding. After killing his senior wife, they whisked away his second wife and two others in the house,” he said.

The incident took place in Piri community in Kwali Area Council of Abuja.

It was learnt that six other persons were abducted during the operation.

A resident of the community, Yakubu Saidu, said the kidnappers earlier invaded two houses on Tuesday night and whisked away two persons.

He said the armed men also invaded the house of one Sardauna, a car dealer, in Kwali town.

“But they couldn’t get him as he escape. They went away with two of his younger brothers,” he said.

Saidu said the kidnappers returned to the community on Wednesday around 11:23 pm and attacked some houses.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, DSP Adeh Josephine, did not pick call to her phone or reply a text message sent to her on the incident.