Bandits on Monday in an early morning attack killed 18 persons in a mosque in Maza Kuka village in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Another 18 persons were also said to have been abducted during the attack.
Sources said the gunmen invaded the community on motorcycles while the residents were performing their morning prayers, shooting sporadically into the air.
Sources said that the gunmen shot at some victims, leaving 18 dead.
Secretary to Niger State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, confirmed the attack to reporters.
He said that 17 people were killed in the mosque while one other was killed at Kaboji village by the gunmen.
Matane said that the state government has sent a team of military personnel to the forest to fish out bandits hiding there.
Alhaji Alhassan Isa Maza-Kuka, Chairman, Mashegu Local Government Council, also confirmed the incident, describing it as very devastating.
He said that the attack was uncalled for especially as the people were in the mosque for prayers.
Maza-Kuka disclosed that one of the injured people was in a critical condition and has been referred to the Minna General Hospital for medical attention.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State Command, DSP Wasiu A. Abiodun, could not confirm the attacks as his number could not be reached as at the time of filing the report.
The independent