Bandits Kill Chief Imam of central mosque and kidnap scores In Keita, Zamfara state

The Chief Imam of the Central Mosque in Keita village in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State, Sheikh Rufa’i has been killed by gunmen suspected to be bandits.

Sheikh Rufa’i’s killing came barely three weeks after the murder of Imam Abubakar Hassan Mada, the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque in Mada in Gusau LGA of the state.

A resident of Keita, Ibrahim Musa Keita, said the bandits invaded the village shortly after Muslims observed the isha’i (night) congregational prayer.

He explained that, “Before the invasion, the residents were alerted about the movement of the bandits along Kwarin Gano-Keita Road. They were sighted along that road but we were not sure whether they would come to this village or not.

“Initially, they wanted to abduct road users along the Keita-Kwarin Gano Road, but after spending some time without getting a single person, they invaded Keita village, killed our chief imam and abducted scores of people, including women.

“We have not ascertained the number of people they have abducted as some people ran into the bush and have not been seen yet.”