Gunmen attack mosque in Delta, abduct Imam, 11 worshippers injured

Armed kidnappers on Friday invaded a mosque in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, abducting an Imam and injuring 11 other worshippers.

The suspected kidnappers, said to be about five, arrived at the mosque in a Toyota Sienna bus when the worshippers were observing their morning prayer (subhi).

The abducted imam was identified as Malam Muhammadu Sani, a native of Katsina State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident, saying police were already after the gunmen to retrieve the abducted cleric.

The gunmen reportedly sporadically into the air to scare residents around the mosque.

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The secretary of the Arewa community in Ughelli North, Darlington Ahmed Garma, gave an account of what transpired to newsmen.

He said, “At about 6.15 a.m., unknown persons came in an ash-coloured Toyota Sienna and parked opposite the mosque.

“Two men entered the mosque. As they were taking the imam, Malam Muhammadu Sani, away, they told the remaining members that were performing their morning prayer to go outside.

“Before they got outside the mosque, 11 worshippers were shot and they are currently on admission at Ughelli Central Hospital.”

One of the injured victims, 63-year-old Muhammed Bagudu, who spoke from the hospital bed, said the masked gunmen entered the mosque and began to shoot at the worshippers.

“They shot me, my brother, one of the imams and went away with another imam, Muhammadu Sani, who is from Katsina State,” he said.