30 out of 40 abducted Muslim worshippers in Katsina rescued -Police

The Katsina State Police Command has rescued 30 out of 40 people abducted by gunmen at a mosque in the Jibiya Local Government Area in the early hours of Monday.

Solacebase had earlier reported that the men, women and children were abducted while performing Tahajjud prayers.

Tahajjud is a midnight prayer that is being observed during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Police spokesman SP Gambo Isah told the BBC the incident took place around 2.00 am on Monday when unidentified gunmen stormed the new mosque in Unguwar Kwata.

According to him, “when they went they fired shots in the air and abducted the people in the mosques that came out for Tahajjud prayers.”

He said after receiving the report, security forces, vigilantes and the local community rallied and pursued the gunmen, which enabled them to rescue 30 of the abductees.

Read Also:JUST IN: 40 Muslim worshippers abducted observing Tahajjud in Katsina

The police spokesman added that an investigation after the rescue operation revealed that there were 10 other people still unaccounted for.

He said they could not determine whether the remains were in the hands of gunmen or had escaped.

SP Gambo Isah said the rescued people had already returned to their families – no one had been shot or injured.

“No one is known to have been taken to hospital because he was injured,” said SP Gambo Isah.