The Nigeria Police on Sunday confirmed that bandits on motorcycles had on Friday attacked a Jummat mosque in Zamfara and abducted the imam and 17 other worshippers.

The police spokesperson of Zamfara State, Mohammed Shehu, said the bandits arrived during a congregational prayer at Dutsen Gari, a farming community in Kanoma district of Maru Local Government Area.

The gunmen killed some members of the community during the attack, the police said.

The attack is the latest in a rising wave of kidnappings now ravaging Nigeria’s northwestern parts.

Recently, Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle said he had secured the rescue of 11 kidnapped persons in the state.