At least five worshippers were shot dead when bandits attacked a mosque during early morning prayers in Yandoto village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The attack, which happened on Friday morning, sent a shock wave across the community.

Witnesses said the assailants stormed the mosque and opened fire indiscriminately, killing five people on the spot and leaving many others with gunshot wounds.

A resident, who spoke under condition of anonymity for security reasons, said the attackers also abducted an unspecified number of worshippers before fleeing into nearby forest.

Describing the incident as “barbaric and inhuman,” the source noted that some of the injured victims are currently receiving medical treatment and are responding well.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said he had not been briefed about the incident by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area.

This assault comes barely a week after a similar incident in Gidan Turbe village, also in Tsafe LGA, where about 40 worshippers were reportedly abducted during dawn prayers.

In a separate tragedy, over 100 illegal miners are feared dead following the collapse of a gold pit in Kadauri village, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Sources revealed that the pit caved in on Thursday, trapping scores of miners.

Efforts to rescue those buried in the debris reportedly led to further casualties, as many of the rescuers suffocated during the operation.

So far, eight bodies have been recovered, all identified as residents of Mekwanugga village.

The deceased have been transported back to their community for burial rites. (Daily Trust)