Police hunt gunmen who abduct Imam, shoot 11 worshippers in mosque
Gunmen on Friday attacked worshippers in Ughelli in Delta State, kidnapping the Imam of the Ughelli Central Mosque.
No fewer than 11 persons were injured by the gun-wielding hoodlums who reportedly stormed the mosque in an ash colour Toyota Sienna.
The five gunmen stormed the mosque located on Otovwievwiere Street in the Okorodafe area of the town around 6am, shooting sporadically.
The Nation learnt that the Imam, Mallam Muhammadu Sani, was whisked away to an unknown destination.
One of the injured victims that spoke from his hospital bed, Muhammed Bagudu, 63, said the gunmen were masked.
“They shot me, my brother, and one of the Imams, and went away with another Imam, Muhammadu Sani, from Katsina State,” Bagudu said.
The Secretary of Arewa Community, Ughelli North, Darlington Garma, said the suspects parked their vehicle “opposite the mosque.”
He added, “Two men entered the mosque, and as they were taking the Imam away, they told the remaining members that were performing their morning prayers to go outside.
“Before they got outside the mosque, 11 worshippers were shot and they are currently on admission.”
A foremost Muslim leader in the state, Alhaji Mumaika Unagha, condemned the attack, saying Muslims, particularly those in the Ughelli area were living in fear, as they did not know the motive for the attack.”
He called on the Commissioner of Police, Ari Mohammed Ali, to urgently fish out the culprits, recalling that about two years ago, the Secretary of the Delta State Muslim Council, Mallam Musa Ugasa, who was a resident of Ughelli, was killed.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright, confirmed the attack.
He said, “I just called the DPO at Ughelli and he confirmed to me that 11 persons were injured in the attack at the mosque.
“However, the police have commenced investigations into the incident and we will update you as we work to unravel the culprits. “For now, no arrest has been made.”