TheCable

An unconfirmed number of persons have been abducted by bandits in Jibiya, Katsina state.

The worshippers had gathered at a mosque to observe Tahajjud, a midnight prayer carried out by Muslims during Ramadan, when the bandits struck.

Sources said the bandits, who came in their numbers, invaded the mosque around 2am.

Some of the residents said they had been earlier alerted about possible attacks, after sighting movement of suspected bandits around the town.

TheCable understands that youth and vigilante groups in the town had prepared to engage the bandits in the event of an attack.

The bandits, however, used a different route to gain entry into the town.

When contacted, Gambo Isah, police spokesperson in the state, said some of the persons abducted have escaped.

He was, however, unable to give the exact number of worshippers still in captivity.

In recent months, armed bandits have attacked a number of communities in the state, and other parts of the north-west region.

In December, more than 300 students of the Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Kankara in Katsina were abducted.