ZAMFARA STATE, Nigeria – In a brutal attack highlighting the persistent security crisis in Nigeria’s northwest, armed bandits killed at least five worshippers and abducted numerous others at a mosque in Zamfara State on Friday.
The assault occurred during dawn prayers on September 26, 2025, in Yandoto village, located in the Tsafe Local Government Area. According to reports, the attackers, who arrived on motorcycles, opened fire on the congregation, killing five men and wounding several more.
Following the shooting, the bandits reportedly rounded up an estimated 10 to 20 survivors and forced them into a nearby bush. The abductions are presumed to be for ransom, a common tactic used by criminal groups in the region.
The attack comes just 11 days after the collapse of a local peace agreement between community leaders and the armed groups, signaling a rapid return to violence. This incident is part of a devastating pattern of banditry in Zamfara, where reports indicate over 500 lives have been lost to such violence since the beginning of the year.
The continued assaults have sparked growing criticism from residents and observers, who accuse both state and federal authorities of failing to provide adequate security in the region.
