Seven people have been killed at two mosques in Kaduna state, police said Saturday.
The worshippers were attacked as they prayed at Saya-Saya village of Ikara local government area of the state.
Police spokesperson Mansir Hassan told the News Agency of Nigeria that the attack was carried out by “bandits”, a loose word authorities in Nigeria use in describing terrorists and criminal gangs in north-western part of the country.
“At about 8:00 p.m. on Friday, we received information from Saya-Saya village that six persons were killed while performing last prayer of the day (Ishai) in a Mosque,” the official said.
“The bandits, about nine of them on motorcycles, arrived and attacked the people in the Mosque.
“At the spot, they shot six persons while praying in a mosque in the village.”
He said the bandits also moved to another mosque at Tashar Dauda, also in Ikara Local Government Area, and killed one person while three sustained bullet injuries.
He said the attackers took away four motorcycles.
“On getting the information, the Divisional Police Officer of Ikara promptly mobilised security operatives to the scenes,” he said.
“By the time our men got there, the bandits had escaped into the bush before the arrival of security operatives.
“So far, no arrest has been made at the scenes of the incident but five empty shells of AK49 rifle were recovered.”
Deadly attacks are common in parts of Nigeria’s north, where armed gangs frequently attack communities and, sometimes, travellers.
Attacks on places of worship are also not uncommon. In April, so-called bandits kidnapped at least 40 worshippers during service from Bege Baptist Church in the Chikun local lovernment area of Kaduna state.
Assailants also kidnapped several worshippers last December in a mosque in Katsina state. Last month, eight graduates travelling for the compulsory national service were seized in Zamfara state.
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