Gunmen kidnapped 19 Muslim worshippers after attacking a mosque within the restive northwest of Nigeria, police mentioned Sunday.

The attackers stormed the mosque in Maigamji village, in Katsina state, throughout night prayers Saturday and carried out the kidnappings after taking pictures and wounding the imam and one other worshipper, mentioned native police spokesman Gambo Isah.

“Our males mobilised and went after the bandits and succeeded in rescuing six of the worshippers from their abductors, whereas efforts are underway to free the remaining 13,” he added.

The 2 folks wounded have been being handled in hospital, he added.

Northwest and central Nigeria have been terrorised by felony gangs domestically referred to as bandits, who village raids steal cattle, kidnap for ransom and burn properties after looting provides.

Hostages are normally launched after a ransom is paid to the gangs, which take refuge within the huge Rugu Forest. It straddles 4 states in northwest Nigeria, together with Katsina.

Final month, 15 folks have been killed and a number of other others wounded in a collection of bandit assaults on villages in neighbouring Kaduna state, say the authorities.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been below intense stress to finish the violence earlier than he leaves workplace subsequent 12 months on the finish of his eight-year tenure in workplace.

There’s rising concern over an alliance within the northeast between the bandits and jihadists waging a 12-year insurgency to determine a Caliphate.