Bandits now use abductees as farm labourers in Zamfara

Bandits have converted the 44 worshippers kidnapped from a Mosque in a community in Zamfara state last week to farm labourers, according to their relatives.

One of the residents of the community, Abubakar Bukkuyum said the bandits had called to tell relatives that the captives were with them and working on their millet and sorghum plantations but had yet to demand ransom.

READ ALSO: Bandits kidnap worshippers during Jummat prayers in Zamfara

Recall that bandits abducted dozens of worshippers from a central Juma’at Mosque in Zugu community of Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State last Friday.

Residents said the armed men hid their guns inside their clothes and stormed the mosque when the Imam was about to start delivering sermons and they asked those on the premises of the mosque to get inside.

“No one saw them with guns and many people mistook them as worshippers. Nobody paid attention to them because they hid their guns. However, shortly after they moved inside the mosque they brought out the rifles and fired some shots as a warning.

“They herded the congregants into the bush but some of the worshippers managed to scramble out of the mosque to safety. The muezzin was among those kidnapped but the Imam was able to escape the assault.