By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Armed bandits have abducted six Muslim worshippers who were observing their Taraweeh prayers inside a mosque in the Azara community of Kachia Local Government Area, Kaduna State, in one of the latest incidents in a spate of insecurity affecting worshippers in northern Nigeria. The gunmen stormed the mosque on Thursday night, firing into the air before forcibly seizing four men and two women and leading them into nearby forests, residents said on 2 March 2026.
Local sources identified the abducted victims as Saifullahi Harisu, Yakubu Yunusa, Abba Minkailu, Yusha’u Sadiku, Maryam Abdullahi, and Aisha Yakubu.
After the attack, bandits also raided another home, briefly capturing two others who managed to escape into the bush during the abduction.
By Friday morning, the assailants had contacted families, demanding a ₦30 million ransom for the release of the worshippers before abruptly ending communication, a community leader disclosed.
Police in Kaduna State have confirmed the incident but have not released further details as investigations continue and security forces seek to locate the victims.
Analysts say the attack reflects the persistent threat from armed bandit gangs that have targeted places of worship, homes and rural communities for kidnappings and ransom in recent years, underscoring ongoing challenges in curbing violence in the region.
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