Zamfara Police confirm eight worshippers abducted in Tsafe mosque attack, dismissing reports that 40 were kidnapped

Those seized in Monday’s attack include Liman Yahaya, Dan Garfi, Malam Damu, Bello Natsuhuwa, Yakubu Isa, Audu Minista, Yaquba Ado, and Sabi Usman.

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The clarification follows reports on social media alleging that 40 worshippers had been kidnapped.

In a statement on Tuesday, command spokesperson Yazid Abubakar debunked the inflated figures, stressing that eight people were taken.

“The incident occurred at about 05:07 hours when suspected bandits invaded the Gidan Turbe area of Tsafe LGA and abducted eight individuals,” Abubakar said.

He added that the police were working closely with other security agencies and community stakeholders to ensure the safe release of the victims.

“We urge members of the public and the media to verify information from official sources before dissemination so as not to cause unnecessary panic,” he warned.

The spokesperson reassured residents of the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

He urged vigilance and encouraged citizens to report suspicious movements to nearby police stations or through emergency hotlines.

The latest incident comes against a backdrop of rising attacks on places of worship in northern Nigeria. Only last month, gunmen stormed a mosque in Lafiagi, Kwara State, leaving one worshipper dead.

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Security analysts say the Zamfara attack underscores the need for tighter protection of vulnerable communities as banditry and abductions continue to spread across the region.