Bandits storm Zamfara mosque during Friday prayers and shoot multiple worshippers dead

-SPECIAL REPORT-

Terror at Dawn - Bandits Storm Zamfara Mosque, Kill Worshippers During Prayers

In the early hours of Friday, September 26, 2025, a wave of terror swept through Yandoto village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nigeria, as armed bandits stormed a mosque during dawn prayers and opened fire on worshippers.

The attack, which occurred around 5:00 a.m., left at least five people dead and several others wounded. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and horrifying, with gunmen firing indiscriminately at the congregation before abducting an unspecified number of worshippers and retreating into the surrounding forest.

The victims, described by community members as devoted Muslims who regularly attended prayers, were later buried following funeral rites held by grieving relatives and neighbors.

The assailants, believed to be part of the loosely organized armed groups operating in the region, showed no mercy, according to residents who recounted the ordeal. “It was a scene of terror. The gunmen showed no mercy, shooting at everyone in sight before taking some people away,” one local source told reporters.

This latest assault comes just days after a similar incident in Gidan Turbe village, also in Tsafe LGA, where approximately 40 worshippers were abducted during early morning prayers. That attack, which occurred around 5:30 a.m. on Monday, September 15, saw gunmen surround the mosque and whisk away the worshippers at gunpoint.

The captives were reportedly taken into the forests around the Gohori axis, a known hideout for criminal groups. The back-to-back incidents have plunged the region into fear and uncertainty, undermining recent peace efforts between local leaders and armed factions.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama, who has been closely monitoring the situation, emphasized the fragility of ongoing dialogue initiatives. “The bandits have no command, structure or control. You can negotiate with bandits in Katsina while they continue to strike in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Kaduna,” Makama noted, highlighting the decentralized nature of the threat and the challenges facing peace negotiations.

The Zamfara State Police Command, through its spokesperson DSP Yazid Abubakar, stated that it had not yet been briefed on the Yandoto mosque attack by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area. This lack of immediate official response has further fueled concerns among residents, many of whom feel abandoned and vulnerable in the face of escalating violence.

In a grim parallel tragedy, Zamfara State is also reeling from the collapse of an illegal gold mining pit in Kadauri village, Maru LGA, which occurred on Thursday, September 25. Over 100 miners are feared dead after the pit caved in, trapping scores beneath the rubble. Rescue efforts turned catastrophic, with some rescuers reportedly suffocating during the operation. At least eight bodies have been recovered and returned to Mekwanugga village for burial.

Together, these twin tragedies underscore the deepening crisis in Zamfara, where insecurity and economic desperation continue to claim lives.

As communities mourn their dead and grapple with fear, the urgent need for coordinated security interventions and sustainable peace-building efforts has never been more apparent.