Bandits in the early hours of yesterday attacked a mosque at Gidan Turbe village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, abducting no fewer than 40 worshippers.
Recall that community leaders and bandits in Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State, on August 28, 2025 signed a peace agreement.
The pact, according to all the attendees, marked a significant step towards ending years of violence, kidnapping and cattle rustling in the North-West and by extension, Northern region.
The attack came barely hours after a similar one at Godai village in Bukkuyum LGA of the state, kidnapping over 10 persons.
Community sources in Zamfara said the attack on the mosque occurred during prayers at about 5:30 am, when the gunmen surrounded it and whisked away the worshippers at gunpoint.
Local sources disclosed that the abductors later moved the captives into the forests around Gohori axis in Tsafe LGA.
The attack, according to critical stakeholders, signalled collapse of the peace deal both Katsina and Zamfara states had with the bandits terrorising the North-West.
The attack pointed at the fragility of ongoing peace arrangements in the region, where heavily-armed groups continue to operate with impunity, despite dialogue initiatives.
In a separate incident late Sunday, bandits reportedly abducted 12 people from Godai village in Bukkuyum LGA.
Zamfara State Police Command said it received a distress call from a Divisional Police Officer in Bukkuyum, adding that security personnel were immediately deployed to the area.
